DEALING WITH SHIRKERS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1504, 7 December 1918, Page 7

DEALING WITH SHIRKERS.

BILL PASSED BY HOUSE. [From Our Own Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, December G. The members' conference with representatives of the Returned ►Soldiers' Association did not greatly reflect itself in the House's treatment of the Expeditionary Forces Amendment Bill, ' the committee stages of which were pro l cceded with this afternoon. Progress was early reported, with slight amendments, and there was only Labour comment, with the reply to it, on the third reading. Punishment of Slackers. "When the consideration of the Bill in committee was resumed, Mr J. McOombs (Lyttelton) moved a new clause to provide that the names of those who had been punished by courts-martial for offences set out in the Bill should not be included in the defaulters' list. His point was that men should not be punished twice.

Sir .lames Allen said that he could not accept the addition. Genuine religious objectors were to be exempted, but amongst the others were straightout, defiant objectors. They had saved their skins, but had done nothing for New Zealand, and there were many whose sons would never exercise the franchise again. They lay in foreign soil. Were those men who had shirked service to be allowed full rights of citizenship? Hon. members: No! The new clause was rejected without a division. Third Reading Carried. Mr H. E. Holland (Grey) called for a division on the question that the Bill be read a third time, but when the House divided, Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central) was the only member to support him. The majority numbered 54. The Bill was passed amidst applause.