MILITARY SERVICE BILL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXX, Issue 14579, 2 June 1916, Page 3

MILITARY SERVICE BILL.

DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT,

SKCOND BEADING CARRIED.

(By Telegraph — PretM Aa»cdation.) W ELLINGTON, Thursday.

Tho debate on tlio Military Service Bill wns continued in the House of Kepreseiitataives to-day.

Mr T. W. Ehodcß (Thames) said he supported the principle of the Bill so as to ensure equality of sacrifice. Ho held, however, that it was the duty of Parliament to mako adequate provision for the men and their dependents. He agreed with the previous speakers that the -wealth of the community should be called up to provide* for the war. He also believed in securing ;i proportion of the war profits.

Mr W. T. Jennings (Taumarunui) ■warned the House against military despotism, although he woukj, support the Bill on the second reading. Ho proposed to strenuously oppose some of the clauses in Committee. What lie mainly objected to was the swagger of some of the om'cers.

The Hon. J. Alleu: "There is no

swagger in our army.''

Mr -leanings: ."Oh, yes!"

Continuing, Mr Jennings complained of delay in the payment of dead soldiers' back pay, and hoped the Bill would compel those who were now shirking to come forward.

Mr \V. J. Dickie (Selwyu) supported the principle of the Bill, and hud. confidence that tho Government would do its best. He praised the iidmirristratioii of the Defence Department by the Minister. He objected to boys of under twenty going to the war. The Bill was necessary as a matter of justice to the gallant Allies lighting with us.

Mr ,T. T. M. Horusby (Wairarapa) could not admit the force of those who objected to compulsion. He protested against the slighting remarks made of' France as a conscripted nation. He also complained of the levelling down tactics of some of those living in the country. The man who spoke with a view to deterring recruitiug was , guilty of disloyalty of the worst kind. He was worse than a German. There had boon threats made that if the Bill passed it would be followed by industrial trouble. It was a disgrace to any man to utter one word against recruiting while the enemy was at our gates. We had to maintain our pledge given on tho outbreak of the war or bo everlastingly disgraced. Ho quoted instances of sons being pro vented by their father from enlisting , . He asked, was this fair? He offered a tribute of honour to tho noble manner in whicn the working men had offered their services and looked forward to their doing even better in tho future. He considered the conscientious objector to fighting for his country should not be 'allowed a vote.

Mr J. M. Dicksou (Port, Chalmers) regretted the Bill had not been introduced at the previous session, in his opinion the voluntary system had been a failure, lie; favoured an alteration in the enlisting .ages to -1 and :">. He said that members of the Kxemption Board would have to be very carefully selected. Mr Okey (Taranaki) pointed out. that the piim-iple of compulsion had proved eOVcthe in .lSf>S, at the time of the .Maori war. Jie supported the !>ill and necessary amendments no doubt would be made in Committee. Mr Glover (Auckland Central) supported the Bill, which ho regarded as a matter of expedience. Mr W. Nosworthv (Ashburton ) alluded to the sacrifices made by all sections of tiie community. He thought if: any section had failed it had been the statesmen and politicians. He regretted the Government had not brought down the measure now before, the House earlier, ih.' believed the Bill to be a good one, with few loopholes for escape. The majority of the speeches in the debate had boon loyal and patriotic, lie took strong eX'eption to-the remarks made to I lie effect that- the ri-.-h were not doing their share. The I übour member;-! \ve:'e opposed to coii--1 II I that, when I J i lation the 1 -tory, but tl II 1 the coni- | ! The Labr 1 II i t the Bill, 1 • the rich t t 1 tho voluuI 1 11 -ompel all 1 1 to join i iie 1 1 1 niment to I i taxation. A lit n this dirII unplailied I down in. 1 1 lered pro--1)1 1 si si those with iinancial obligations who might be ( ousrripted. He held it to be the duty of vxovy member to give all possible assistance in making the Bill a complete success. The Hon. Xgata (Mastern Maori) made- a lengthy statement as to the history of the Maori contingents. The men .it the front were calling for reinforcements. ,\(i Maori blood could be'shed m ithoiit. calling for revenge. That was the reason U'liy the natives asked to be included in the Military Service Bill. Hi* thought his race would be invigomtt by the war. and thai many misinjder- J 1 in I > *■ n i i 1' < t ii oi ' 1 I I l I (ill li I t I t , ' I U \ i i tl i i I oi ' > - In I I II M Hi I I I *l I I I i V • , , , , „ I ] ill It 1 I 1 il til lon dill n 1) I lit si t 1 ' ' I' j i i ] i ' I, lt I'll ' \i I II I I i pol V l' . Mi I I i 1 U " I l> ' I X II ' I ( l l 1 11 ' O ( tin ' i IK I 1 ' l> I i 'l IlltltO 1)1 (I i Oil i t I t \ \ i oi \ ii So cm oiu I s i \ I they had not done- their liuiy, and that, j tlio country was not; prosperous. Wiili re;.. , '. , ! rd ro the organisation of industries. l;e mentioned, that instead of the census being I;>ken next year,, it; had been a iTiingod that it would be taken in October next, lie appreciated the remark's of members concerning the marriage clause of■ tho Bill, and he could

state that he and his colleagues were prepared to amend that clause, lie also appreciated the remarks of the, Hon. Mr Ngata concerning the Maoris" and compulsion, and if the Maori members desired it they were prepared to eliniinato Maoris from a portion of the Bill, leaving them to volunteer. He pointed out that in the dark days of the Maori war conscription whs general in tho Auckland district. Tho Bill did not at all do away with voluntaryism, and ho would say that no Bill that had over come before Parliament had received "such, consideration as the present one. The compulsory clauses of the Bill would not bo put into operation unless some district failed to produce its quota. The difference between their Bill and tho Bill of Abraham Lincoln was that theirs made no distinction between the millionaire and the wngoearner, whereas Lincoln's measure allowed a miui to provide* a substitute or to buy himself out. The difference between Lincoln's "war and our own was that the former fought for freedom of the slaves and we were lighting for our own freedom. They had not compelled one territorial to go to the war, as had been suggested by some members, liogardiug Labour's attitude in the House,

he eliiUlengcd the member for Lyttelton to speak on behalf of Labour. Ho asked him if it wore a fact that at the recent meeting in Wellington, where a unanimous vote against- compulsion was said to have been carried, many of the delegates present loft the room.

Mr McoCmbs: "That is absolutely incorrect."

Mr Mass'ey: "I was told that it was so by a member of the present forces who was present.''

Mr Ma.ssey directed the attention oJ' the House to several resolutions carried and enactments passed in refutation of 'the allegations that there was no authority for the sending away of the ex- , petitionary f'orw.s. Ho believed the people had. made great- sacrifices so far, but he also believed they would bo called upon to make greater sacrifices in the future. Ho would say that the honour of the country was concerned, and that, the 00,UOO men who had gone away would be supported up to the last man iv the country. The State was en-

titled for its defence to tho services of every man in the community. While the European countries were armed to the teeth it was foolish for Britain to go on depending upon money (great work that it had done), and. the voluntary army. Dealing with the arguments concerning the. conscription of wealth ho stated that the war was costing us something like twelve millions annually, and if some of the members' arguments were carried out they should collect- eleven millions in the country annually. Of course, that was absurd. He mentioned, with regard to the Military Service Board that they would probably find a. Stipendiary Magistratepresiding over the tribunal. He further stated that telegrams were beginning to come into him and other members oi' the Government suggesting that pence terms should be arranged in the jiot too distant future. He hoped there would bo jio premature peace, and that there would be no peace until the Allies had administered the ''knock-out blow.'" Mr McCombs stated that he had the assurance of the .secretary of the Trades Hall that Air Mussoy's assertion that there was a division of opinion concerning the -Military tfer\'ice Bill was contrary to fact. The Hon. Mr Buddo (Kaiapo'O supported the Bill, because among other reasons it brought all classes into line. The Hon. <!. W. Kusse.ll said lie had Sir Joseph Ward's authority for saying that he hoped to be present at the third reading to be able to state tinBill had his'full support. The Bill had been given the most careful consideration. Members would note that, telegrams in tho newspapers showed tho Bill had already caused a sharp rise in re-

entitinu. Ho-Ai'Vt'! , , they had to redeem their promissory note, unit the Bill presented an alternative should the voluntary system not supply the iei>!j'oiv.i'im'iits required. He explained mutters in lemiP'! to the al' a ballot. Tin , ( 'ruWi; w:is t:.',kin:.; , steps to <■■!.'im exempt ion i'c-r l-ieir servants, who would be in the sa'ie , position ;is private employers. Th" Sinn. .1. Allen spok- at ieiuiib on the Hi'!, any stated tlt.ii. nece:-:-: ry amendments, roiiid ho nnu'e when tl.e Bill was in < 'ojninil.tee. The se;-oiid readinu was •.'an'iod I.y -'i n votes to "j, ami tii(' House i-js-\