COMPULSION BILL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16123, 11 January 1916, Page 8

COMPULSION BILL

NO GENERAL ELECTION. ATTITUDE OF LABOUR. DECISION NOT APPROVED. London, January 9 After a week's strenuous excitement the country is enjoying a weekend of comparative quiet. Interest continues to be centred in the trade unions' attitude towards the Compulsion Bill, but it is noteworthy that several of the Labour leaders insist that the decision of the Trades Union Congress must not be regarded as a fair reflection of the trade union movement. Mr. J. Hodge, M.P., considers that a mistake was made in calling a composite conference, instead of a purely trade union congress. He believes that it may result in the expulsion of the Independent Labour Party, the Fabian Socialists and other political elements. Mr. Hodge considers the crisis has passed, and that there will not be a general election, Mr. Havel ock Wilson expresses the same views, but Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P., maintains his uncompromising attitude. He was given a mixed reception at Cardiff, where a meeting of Labour supporters was divided on lines similar to those of Thursday's conference. Mr. Thomas said that be would support compulsion if wealth were subscribed equally with Labour.

Mr. Thomas had a mixed reception at Swansea. While expressing the utmost contempt for the unmarried " slacker," he denied that voluntaryism had yet failed. He contended that it ought to have been continued. Compulsory service was not desirable, because it was playing into the enemy's hands. Britain was determined to smash German militarism, but must not create a despotism which might easily be extended to the workshops. He suspected that, to be the object of many conscriptioaists. He himself was prepared 'Co face his constituents! upon the issue, but was opposed to a general election, as it would be likely to arouse bitterness and destroy the nation's unity. An anticonscription resolution was carried. GERMAN FEARS. FLEET MUST ACT. Amsterdam, January 9. The Cologne newspaper Volks Zeitung, in an angry article on the British Bill, declares that the German fleet must act against Britain, which will be quite uncontrollable if allowed to send millions of men to the Continent. " Germany," adds the paper, " is really fighting for the freedom -of the whole of Europe, when striving to break England's rule." ~ The Berlin newspaper Lokal Anzeiger. says: "Mr. Asquith has won a great Parliamentary victory. His majority on the Bill surpassed all expectation's, and expresses an uncurbed will to achieve victory, because the renunciation of the right of deciding for oneself is one of the greatest sacrifices an Englishman can make. As far as the Germans are concerned the Bill has only a politic*! ?nd no military significance, for it will not influence the issue of the war."