COMPULSORY SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16204, 14 April 1916, Page 5

COMPULSORY SERVICE.

GENERAL POLICY URGED.

ACTION BY UNIONISTS.

(Received April 13. 8.5 0.K..) London, April 13. Notice has been given in the House of Commons by Sir Edward Carson of a motion to amend the Military Service Act to secure as far as possible equality of sacrifice by every man of military age by rendering all liable to military service. A meeting of TO members of the Unionist War Committee decided that Sir Edward Carson should submit this motion. The committee states it believes that 50 votes in favour of general compulsory military service are certain and that 100 votes are expected. The latter number is regarded as sufficient to force the Cabinet to adopt the measure or to face the disruption of the Coalition Ministry.

MR. PEARCE'S OPINION.

NO MEED IN AUSTRALIA. Melbourne, April 13. Replying to a deputation of the Australian Natives' Association, urging that conscription should be introduced, the Acting - Prime Minister, Mr. G. F. Pearce, stated that they had the strongest argument for conscription. The State should exercise discretion as to who should be sent and who should remain. He did not think th, t more men would be sent than under the system of voluntary enlistment. Referring to the war census, Mr. Pearce stated that there were 120,000 single men between the ages of 18 and 44 who had refused to enlist. He thought that at prosent there were plenty of men available, and that coo eription was not necessary.