RECRUITING PROBLEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16214, 27 April 1916, Page 7

RECRUITING PROBLEM.

SECRET SESSION BEGINS. EXTRAORDINARY INTEREST. STRANGERS ORDERED OUT. (Received April 26. 6.10 p.m.) London, April 25. Extraordinary interest was manifested in to-day's secret session of Parliament for the discussion of the recruiting situation. Members of the House of Commons began to assemble at 7.30 a.m. Every seat was appropriated, many taking places in the distinguished strangers' and the press galleries. There was a remarkable attendance of Ministers and ex-Ministers. Some 200 members were in khaki. After the reading of prayers, the Chamber presented a scene of extraordinary animation. Members hurried their notices of questions, but a sensation was caused when Mr. Augustine Birrell, Chief Secretary for Ireland, made a statement in reply to a question regarding the outbreak in Dublin. At the end of question time, Mr. Asquith, who was loudly cheered on rising, speaking impressively and deliberately, said: "I beg, sir, to call your attention to the fact that strangers are present." The Speaker rose and said: " The question is that strangers be ordered to withdraw." There was a general cry of " Aye," with a few scattered "Noes." A division was challenged, but when the question was put for the third time it was carried without a division. (A statement of the Government's proposals is published in another column.). STATEMENT BY LORD CREWE QUESTION OF PROCEDURE. LORDS NOT CONSULTED. (Received April 26. 8.45 p.m.) London, April 35. The House of Lords was crowded. Strangers, including the press, were rigorously excluded. Lord Rosebery was present for the first time since the division on the Parliament Act, when he described his speech as a swan song. The Marquess of Crewe, Lord President of the Council, explained that the secret session was due fco the fact that the course which the Government proposed might not meet the full desires of the extremists of either side. Therefore he wished to make a full statement, containing much confidntial information. Lord Salisbury protested against the closing of the galleries before the House had been consulted, and declared that a similar procedure should be followed as in the House of Commons. Lord Lansdowne said he thought the protest was not unreasonable, but he thought it was really important to get into secret session as early as possible. CHANGE OP GOVERNMENT. REFERENDUM SUGGESTED. London, April 25. The well known publicist Mr. Frederic Harrison, writing in the Times, says there is no reason why there should not be a general election. He suggests the passing of a short Act to simplify the machinery and to enable all elections to be held on one day so that all electioneering would be over within a week. _ Failing this he recommends taking a referendum on the question of whether there should be a change of Government. UNIONIST PARTY'S VIEW. PROPOSALS INVOLVE DELAY. (Rewired April 26, 11.25 p.m.) London, April 26. A meeting of the Unionist War Committee, at which Sir Edward Carson presided, passed a resolution recording dissatisfaction at the delay involved by the Government proposals disclosed at the secret session. VIEWS OF RECENT CRISIS. INDIFFERENCE IN BRITAIN. VICTORY ONLY OBJECTIVE. Times and Sydney Sun Services. (Received April 26. 5.5 p.m.) London, April 25. In a leading article the Times says: ''No plain man outside political circles cares two straws about these embittered Cabinet controversies. What the public wants is to win the war thoroughly as quickly as possible. They, are .quite, indifferent,

what Government is in power when they win it. The only national disaster they recognise is the national defeat of the British." The German press is restrained and cautious regarding the secret session of the British Parliament, and is obviously surprised that the crisis was so quickly overcome. The French press is cordial and tactful, and evidently anticipates that compulsion will quickly follow. The Figaro says: "Great Britain realises that her continental allies are hampered in the struggle for world liberties because they have not the ocean on all their frontiers. Great Britain has decided to sacrifice her rights and ancient privileges for fair play and honour. France is delighted at this act from the proud British people."