THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCES AMENDMENT BILL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17124, 27 October 1917, Page 3

THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCES AMENDMENT BILL.

WELLINGTON, October 26

After the Telegraph. Office closed at 2 a.m. the Minister denied that there were any case; requiring whitewashing, and no injustice had been done anyone, but he had been advised by the Crown Law officers that the clause was necessary in war time.

Mr Wilford said if the facts cf the Fitzgerald case are as put to hiui the Minister must put his resignation in the hands of the Premier, and some prominent officers must also put in theii* resignations. It was the most- extraordinary* case that had ever come under his notice.

Sir John Pindlay suggested the holding over of the retrospective action of the clause- till Januarr next, giving injured persons till then to bring actions.

The Minister accepted this proposal, but the suggestion finding little favour was withdrawn, and the clause was added to the Bill by 33 to 28.

Mr Anderson's amendment, depriving deserters of landed property, was, on a division, rejected by 45 to 16, the Minister stating that the Cabinet had considered the proposal and decided it-was,,going to far.

The committee agreed to a new clause exempting the last son in a family, of which three or more sons were already at the front.

A new clause was moved by Mr Smith (Waimarino) exempting the last man on a farm, but was lost by 41 to 6, and the Bill was then reported with amendments, the amendments were agreed to, and the Bill 2'ead a third time.

The House rose at 4.15