MILITARY SERVICE BILL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXX, Issue 14579, 1 June 1916, Page 3

MILITARY SERVICE BILL.

DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WHLLINGTON, Wednesday.-

In resuming tho debate on the Military Service Bill in the House of Representatives, Mr J. Craigie (Timaru) said ho would support the measure. He deplored the fact that youths of 18 and 19 years of ago had gono forward to fight and also those men with four and five children, whilst single men who wero really eligible had remained behind. He supported the Bill because it tended more towards equality of sacrifice than the present system. Mr Pearce (Patea) regretted tho Bill had not been brought forward at the close of last session. Ho considered the National Registration Scheme had been put into operation in a slipshod manner. He quoted figures from the last census to show that many eligible men were still in the country. The Bill was a good one, and would be improved with a few amendments'.

Mr McCallum (Wairau) supported the Bill, but stated he was strongly opposed to any undue development of the military spirit. Ho considered that infants in the eyes of tho law should not bo conscripted. The age might bo extended to 55. He complained of the attitude of up-start officers unaccustomed to handling men. He would 'vote against the third reading unless* the effect of the Bill was limited to the present war.

Mr Isitt (Christchurch North) said he stood four square in favour of the Bill, and would support, legislature for conscription every time. Moral conscription took the best and left the shirker and blatherskite to perpetuate the race. He deplored the statement that the effect of the Bill would be to strangle tho liberties of the people, which he stigmatised as balderdash, lie asserted that audiences ho had addressed in the South Island embarrassed speakers by the demand for conscription. Tho prospect of tho Bill beingpassed had already had an effect in stimulating recruiting. Every man who had the interests of their wives and children at heart should welcome the Bill, because under it 40,000 single men were available for a year, and tho war would probably not last that time. He {(leaded for consideration for the conscientious objectors* (the Quakers), of whom there were but 500 in the country, 300 men and 200 women. He would say that rather than see his wife and children violated he personally would light, and light all he knew.

_Ir Hi ml marsh (Wellington youth) asked, what were the obligations of the State to young men, iiad what were the obligations of young men to the State.' Were they mutual? He thought they were, lie asked what the Prime ilini. ter of the. country would do witli the lands of the country in the interests o . the men coming back from the war? He could ijnagine what would be done, ile pleaded that the men who were giving v;- their lives should be paid properly for their services. By the commercial law of the country those men were entitled to full compensation,- but did they get- it? lie referred to the Bill as a miserable abortion. .Real shirkers were not the men who wero not going to light, but the large men who would not come forward and say what thoy would do for the soldier. The large land owner in every case was- in favour of compulsion., but he did little to assist men going forward. He hoped} the country would do as well by its soldiers as America had done, where every soldier was paid a pension • Mr Hudson (Motueka) said lie unreservedly supported the Bill. He knew that .J per cent of his- constituents were also favourable to the Bill, which must prove, a consolation to those who had already enlisted. Mr Ell (Christchurch South) said he favoured the Bill, although he had been warned it would cost him his seat. That would uot affect him where duty was involved. He then urged the necessity for reducing the cost of living, also the imposition of* additional taxation so that full justii-e might he done to men who were making the supreme sacrifice. The Pension Act ought to lie brought back again and given further consideration. Mr id-Combs (Lyttelton) said the Bill was a belittlement of the pluck and patriotism of the people of the Dominion. He argued that there was no necessity to place the Bill on the Statute Book. He moved as an amendment that the Bill be read that day three months.

The amendment was seconded by Mr Walker (Dunedin "North), who quoted the Defence Minister's' figures to show that rer-niit'mg had not broken down, fie urged that the minimum age of recruits be raised so as to pre.ent immature youths going into the (iring line. Jle also objected to those who had married aftor August 4th, 1.14, being stigmatised as proposed in the Bill.

Mr R. A. Wright (Wellington Subnrlvs) said there were reported statement, that the men on his side were not prepared to make sacrifices. He cited the names of several members whose sons had joined the reinforcements. He favoured the compulsory system, as it was a just ono. and also the appointment of a strong bond that would inspire confidence.

Mr Vigor Brown (Napier) favoured the Bill, and urged that the success of the measure was dependent upon the constitution of the Service Board. He held fha/: if the soldiers had been properly treated in the matter of pay and pensions the Bill would not have been necessary. Mr Newman (Ffangitikei) thought it would be diilicult to work the voluntary and compulsory systems' together. It would be wise to fix the date when voluntary enlistment would cease. M r Pi eld (Nelson) described the Bill as a compromise between the voluntary and compulsory systems. He held that men with financial obligations, who wok 1 compelled to enlist, .should be assisted, and that conscientious objectors honlil be given consideration.

Mr Weld) (Grey) stated that the Bill should be deferred for another three months. He maintained there .had been no mandate from the country in support of it. The country was not doing the right thing by the men who had enlisted. He admitted an injustice had taken (dace under the voluntary system, but wOrse would follow upon compulsion .

Mr Hine (Stratford) was surprised by the amendment which had been tabled that day. The time had arrived when compulsion was iiocossaryy. He thought that Advisory "Boards would be required in several districts. One would not l)e sufficient. Be also held that men should be conscripted if required

for civil work. The age limit shouldjbe extended. Ho did not think the war profits, so "much spoken of, existed in fact. Mr Anstey (Waitaki) hold that the Government would not be doing its duty if it did not bring down a measure for tho conscription of wealth iv tho same drastic maimer it proposed to conscript men. Ho spoke in commendation of the Bill.

Mr Tau Hcnaro (Northern Maori) said his peoplo were not believers in conscription, but were willing to do their best. They did not think of money, but their sole aim was that we should win the war. If the money element was insisted upon his-people, would bo reluctant to enlist. He brought before tho Government's notice tho question of the Austrian menace in the North Auckland district. Tho natives there wero afraid to send their sons away on account of tho fact that thousands of Austrians wero at liberty in the North.

Mr Hindm&rsh (Wellington South) asserted that the Premier had deliberately withheld tho Financial Statement until tho war measures had passed tho

House

Tho amendment was lost by 54 votes ;o 5 and the debate was adjourned. Tho House rose'at 11.50 o'clock.