DEFENCE AMENDMENT BILL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 934, 29 September 1910, Page 6

DEFENCE AMENDMENT BILL.

CONTENTIOUS CLAUSES POSTPONED. NEW MILITARY TRIBUNAL. j The, House went into Committee on tho Defence Amendment Bill at 11.15 p.m. On Clause 4, which- provides a system of selection instead of one of ballot, in regard to the, forces, Sir. JAMES ALLEN (Bruco) said ho thought that there should be only , one section for training—either the general training sectiori or the Territorials should be done away with. In the Commonwealth it was proposed to _ have only, one section for training. Under the-proposed schcmo injustices wero ■ bound to occur. Ho felt that tliero should be 3ome definite scheme of exemptions. Officials l of those public Departments 1 whose services would he required in time of war—such as the Postal Department and the Railway, Department—should . bo. exempt. Among, other classes which might, be., exempted : were bread-winners. ■ ' • ■ The PRIME MINISTER said that he would agree to the postponement of the clause in order that it might (be, more carefully considered. At the instance of the' Prime Minister consideration,: was also deferred of Clauso' 5, -providing that every member/of .the Territorial Force shall on the age (of , 25. be drafted into the; reserve, etc, and Clause 6,-which'provides for service .by young men from 18 years or from any' later date on which they cease to attend a secondary school .to. 25 •'. years,' in the general,.training section, or in the Territorial Force, and for service in the reserve from 25 to 30 years. " Position of the Boy Scouts. With regard to, the Boy Scouts movement, the following new: clauses were . proposed- by - tho Prime Minister :—"The .Minister for and the ' Minister 1 for. Education,may at the request of the controlling ' authority/take over the control of tile Boy, l Scouts, or .' -permit the j formation of Boy Scout units/ in the' Senior and Junior ' Cadets / respectively, j Such units inay: be designated Boy Scout Cadets, . and .-wfear / the scout but.shall beisubject to the provisions of the principal Act so far as they- relate to Senior'and Junior Cadets. The training of-.t.ie' Boy Scout Cadets: shall - be: as prescribed for Senior and Junior Cadets, 1 and' in addition■ they may/practise / the training -s<jt -out in the scout-training text book." - ■'''(: Koplyirig .to-a- question, ' the..- Prime. Minister l said: that under -the/ proposal the' scouts would keep their, uniforms- arid organisation, but they -would, have to do work equal to the other cadets.. - a - ' TATLOB. (Christchurch North) declared .that uniforms - in ' the case of'cadets' were/unnecessaryjit would 1 be -.Wanton .waste; He( believed that/tho stnetost economy', should bo exercised as compulsory Gaining; might'be enforced in New Zealand before many years. -: The (PRIME; MINISTER said that he believed it (Would bo a mistake not -to provide the scouts : vrith . Uniforms. - -Mr. WILPORD (Hutt) was 'in favour ot' a simple (uniform. for/ cadets. : Tho New- Zealanders, as 'a' whole /were, opposed to tinsel .andzplUmes./ No'defence section got a more hearty welcome than -tho Navals. -'-"-. l ':•' /'• -Z .- ■ :, The; PRIME MINISTER - said that each cadet unifbrin,' cost, 55.; arid: they,, would last for five years. ' /'..:' -The new clauses were ( agreed : to.' ■;': • . Clause' 8, ' which . - provides / that tho compulsory /training -in the senior cadets in; any year , shall; not be less than 64 hours, .-.was ' adopted practically without discussion. '.'./■ ■-. . ■ - ■ "-'/• '- Military Appeal Court,: . The clauso in - the. Bill . providing for. the; creation/:of a ' board/of appeal on dismissals; was considered. :, (~' / Replying a question, the Prime Minister. -said- tlfat he intended to , propose, in/its/stead the adoption/of the ; Home system of court martial. .//,'( ' Mr.- Massey ': . Will' thez provision- be re-' trospectivo? 1 // // >■ • .". ■ /' ■. '. Tho 1 Prime/Minister: It will apply to . all .dismissals during' the' 12 moritns' p're- ' ceding (the('passing, of /the ( Act 'as well as, to subsequent dismissals. Mr.z'Massey: I-am gliid; .to hear - that/because. I 'know/ of ,two;-cases' which are ■awaiting/trial.' /--/: ' ' /' . z ■-.'/■: :'- -The; PRIME. MINISTER indicated that, the - new( clauses, providing for the - setting up 1 of, the, new : court-martial''Would -be as : .under:—; •,.-.. / ■ -■/ : ' The .Governor may /:- (a) convene or authorise/any qualified: officer, to convene/a, general;court-martial for:the;tria(l,. under , this ,Act,- of any person: subject to military , law,; / and (b) • give -a: gerieral authority. to any ; -qualified:(officer to': convene . general'- .; or ( district-courts-martial for the .trial, under this Act,, of . such per-. . sons (subject/to/ military law,',as/are -for. the: (time lMing(-..under/, or/ within 'the territorial limits of 'his*command; / arid 1 (c) .'empower any/, qualified officer.'to dele- 1 gate / to , any.'officer - under (his "command, not below the, degree of-fiold-officer.. of: tho permanent force or permanent .staff,, a general> authority, to. convene, general or' •district'co.urts-inartial for- trial," under, this: Act,, of such persons subject (to ,mili-: ..tary law, as/are lor the time-being' under, or. within- the territorial / limits of /his coriimand;. and '(d) reserve .'for : confirmation .by / himself, or efripowerz' any (i qualified officer to confirm, the' findings and. sentences: of /general, or/ --/district'' courts-martial; and (e) empower, any "officer. for tho time being authorised to confirm, the finding and; sentences'of (general or' district: courts : martial . to reserve, for confirmation such findings and senterices; and: (f)' njake/rcgulatious 'for the: convening, ( composition, .procedure,-:and powers", of cov.rts-martial. '-(((,,:/..//://'''/;,, "Qualified, officer", is .to (mean- the commandant of tho.defence forces; the officer comtrianding the permanerit force;', : an officer coinmanaing a : district! /The ■ following,. persons ; are, persons subject :' to military law as officers:—(a). Officers lof the-permanent force and permanent gtoff.j 1, arid'(b) all..other-''.officers..of the/defence: ,forces( on all occasions when-performing military duty, or ( going/to. or ;from the. place /of parade,':exercise,', or^ f military' duty. ' The/; following persons are subject to . military ~' law.; '/ as ./soldiers:.:' Non-commissioned,"officers* and men (of the defence' forces" (including the permanent staff), ; on all 'occasions /.when performing military, duty,, or going to/o.r from, the place of .(parade, /exercise, of (military, duty. ': The ; provisions., of -the Army Act in so far" as they relate to courts-martial shall, .subject, to the provisions of this Act, apply to courts-mar-, tial. convened under tins,Act.;/./.': ,; /,':■'/-/, Mr. T. E: : /TAYLOR / (Christchurch. North) spoke .strongly in: favour of the creation of civil courts, to hear appeals. .. The/PRIME./.MINISTER replied that nine-tenths .of the. Territorials would, be | opposed, to such/ a proposal. /, ; ■ Mr...Taylor : It will become law.'within. :a. few years in spite of your view. '-/'.'• An Important Division. Mr. Hogg' (Masterton) and'Mr'.' M'Laren (Wellington East) .preferred a civil board of appeal, . whilst :<Messrs.° / Clark: (Port : Chalmers) and /Witty. (Riccdrton) took an opposito view. . ' - ./. .:- .:(•/'( : Mr; MASSEY.declined that Captain K/nyvett had been persecuted, and-should get a fair trial/ Mr. POLAND- (Oliiuemuri) argued that tho manner of the inquiry into the case of' Captain (Knyvett was scandalous. Upon: a:division it.-was decided to delete'clause'lo .(which provided/for. the setting up, of a semi-civil board of appeal), with the object'of creatirig'a military appeal board, the voting being:' Against the retention of the clause, 42/ for ite"/retention,.. 15;/ .the - latter being Messrs. Arnold,' Dive, Ell, Fisher,'Greens--1 lade,' Hogg,'Lang, Russell,' Poland, Pearce, (/)key, : M'Laren', Luke, T. - E. iTaylor; arid Wright. : " . - . - , (. At, this stage, '.when only the contentious clauses iri the early part of the Bill remained unconsidered, besides' the pro-' posed new clauses, progress was reported, and the House, (at. 1.45 a.m.,, adjourned.