AS GOOD AS PASSED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 39, 17 February 1943, Page 5

AS GOOD AS PASSED

AUSTRALIAN MILITIA BILL (Special Australian Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) (Recd. 6.25 p.m.) Sydney, Feb. 16. Australia’s Militia Bill, now before the Senate, is practically certain to be placed on the Statute books. One Opposition Senator has announced that he will oppose'any amendment to the Bill, thus nullifying the Opposition’s Senate majority of 19 to 17. Other Opposition Senators may take a similar stand.

“I hope and believe, that conscription will become the foundation upon which our defence organisation will be built, and I accept the Militia Bill as a substantial advance towards that objective,” declared the supporting Senator Crawford. Queensland.

“Senator Crawford’s decision is regarded as the beginning of the end of the serious conscription controversey.” writes the Sydney Herald's political correspondent to-day. Directly concerned with the area ot service for which militiamen shall be liable, but in no way affecting the Militia Bill, the Senate Opposition Leader McLeay has introduced an amendment, to the National Security Act aimed at the removal of the proviso in the Act preventing the oveiseas use of the militia. This amendment may possibly be carried in the Senate, but it would come before the House of Represwitatives as a private member’s Bill so that it could be nut at the bottom of the agenda paper indefinitely. It is likely that such a Bill would not be considered during the life of the present Parliament.