COMPULSION BILL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2669, 14 January 1916, Page 5

COMPULSION BILL

HEAD SECOND TIME LABOUR MINISTERS REMAIN IN OFFICE MINERS THREATEN JBIG STRIKE CRITICAL DAYS AHEAD By Telegraph—Freso Association—Oopyrlfflit (Rec. January 13, 10 p.m.) London, January 13. In tho House of Commons, during tho discussion on tho Compulsion Bill, Sir John Simon (who has just resigned the Home Secretaryship) said that he bad had to consider whether the national unity wore endangered. Thero was nothing in Lord Derby's report to justify the assertion that Mr. Asquith's pledge should be fulfilled. It ought to bo possible to find persons who had not yet been attested. They liad to conaider how far the Bill approached industrial compulsion. Ho would resist (•lie Bill, because the Government was strengthening tho same system which nad made Germany a menace to the world. Mr. Asquith (Prime Minister), in reply, agreed that the main object on which all were concentrating their attention was to strike down Germany, but Sir John Simon, in some parts of his speeoh, appeared to be far removed from the actualities of tlie situation. Ho had lost all sense of perspective. Mr, Asquith said that there was no fear of a General Conscription Bill doing ,to be carried in the hope of maintaining and preserving the voluntary system. If he bad not given his pledge that system would have been dead. He spoke for tho whole Government when lie said that unless the Bill ivas passed they would not obtain men, .and so would bo unablo to play their part in tho war or fulfil their obligations to their Allies. He bad xiot the slightest intention of using this measure against industrialism, and ho hoped that the industrial workers would aocepti that assurance. They were considering safeguards to make any abuse on tlie part of the employers impossible. ""When the Bill operates, if tho holders-back come forward of their own volition and place themselves at the service of tho State, that will give us a new asset of incalculable value." The Bill was read a second time, a motion to reject it being negatived by 431 votes to 39. After Mr. Asquith's pledge, t'he debate waned. Mr. W. M. R. Pringle announced that lie and his friends had withdrawn their opposition. Mr. Ellis Griffiths said that the opposition came from the Nationalists and the Labour members. He added, ironically: "Compulsion for a man to join his trade union is a splendid example •of liberty, but to compel a man to join tlie Army is treason! Mr. Dillon said ho regarded compulsion as a campaign of conspiracy to drive out Mr. Asquith, Lord Kitchener, and Sir Edward Grey. Mr. Arthur Henderson (President of the Board of Education) wound up t'he debate. He denied the statement that the Bill contained an insidious menaco to industrial freedom, and appealed to Labour and the Commoners to join the House in sending a message to their fel-low-workmen in France and Belgium to say thai; tho hour of their delivery was near. (Loud cheers, Mr. Asquith patting Mr. Henderson on the back.) Tlie division was received applause. The minority included " Sir John Simon (Liberal), Mr. John Burns (Labour), Mr. J. A. Thomas (Labour), Mr. R. L. Outhwaite (Liberal), Mr. F. W. Jowett (Labour), Mr. C. P. Trevelyan (Liberal), and Sir W. P. Byles (Liberal). Mr. Asquith, in reply to a question, said that members of the House of Lords and of tlie House of Commons, of military ago, could not claim exemption under the Compulsion Bill. A CURIOUS MESSAGE. The' High Commissioner reports:— London, January 12, 8.10 p.m. In the House of Commons Mr. Asquith promised to introduce an amendment, preventing employers from dismissing obnoxious workmen. . [We publish the above message as received. .It is, oil the face of it, quite extraordinary.]

THE BILL, OR A NATIONAL STRIKE MINERS' FEDERATION VOTE The High Commissioner reports: — London, January 12, 5.55 p.m. The Miners' Federation voted, by 162 to 83, in favour of a national strike in the event of compulsory service being enforced. The miners throughout the country will be balloted' before the course is adopted. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, January 12. The South Wales Miners' Conference, • by 211 to 35, denounced the Compulsion Bill. BRANCHES ALMOST UNANIMOUS. (Rec. January 13, 7.30 p.m.) London, January 12. Tho branches of the Miners' Federation are almost unanimous in their opposition to compulsion. THE CONFERENCE VOTE TO-DAY. (Rec. January 13, 11.20 p.m.) London, January 13. There is no doubt that the National Conference of Miners to-day will pass an academic resolution against compulsion, since the delegates do not vote according to tlieir personal opinions, but according to the decision of their District Cfcmferences. It is not likely that there will be a majority in favour of a national down-tools policy. The vote of tho South Wales Federation is regarded as a bluff, particularly in view of tho Merthyr election. The South Wales miners liave decided that tho only method of effectively opposing compulsion is a national strike after a ballot of all the British miners. THE BRITISH CABINET RESIGNATIONS LABOUR MINISTERS CHANGE TI-lEIR MINDS. New York, January 12. A Router's message from London states that the three Labour members of the Cabinet, Mr. Arthur Henderson (Loader of the Labour Party), Mr. W. Brace (Under-Secretary for Homo Affairs), and Mr. G. H. Roberts (UnderSecretary to the Treasury), have withdrawn their resignations. AN OFFICIAL REPORT. The High Commissioner reports: LoilCibllj January 12, 8.10 p.m. Til? resignations of the Labour mem hers of the "Cabinet have been with-

A PRIVATE CONFERENCE. (Ree. January 13, 11.20 p.m.) London, January 13. Mr. Asquith privately conferred with the Labour leaders, including Mr. Arthur Henderson, Mr. Roberts, and Mr. Brace, upon the compulsion issue. CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY. London, January 12. The Hon. E. S. Montagu has been appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with a seat in the Cabinet. He retains the Financial Secretaryship of the Treasury. [The Chancellorship of the Ducliy of Lancaster was given to Major Winston Churchill, late First Lord of the Admiralty, on the formation of the Coalition Government. When he resigned and entered the army, Mr. Herbert Samuel became Chancellor, but he was recently appointed Home Secretary, in place of Sir John Simon, who resigued.l GERMAN CRITIC'S VIEW OF THE MOVEMENT NO BLTJFF, BUT REAL EARNEST. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, January 12. HeiT Gatike, a Socialist and great military critic, writes in the "Vorwae'rts,"warning the people not to heed the Press assertions that English compulsion was intended to bluff her Allies. It was the surest proof of the contrary. Mr. Lloyd George, had staked his whole political future on the great popularity of compulsion. The British were determined to fight to the bitter end. Discussing the military objections to formations of new troops without a sufficiency of officers, Herr Gatiko asks where were the preliminary formations for the Australasian and Cauadian levies. Within limitations, masses wore weapons of good substitute quality. The Australians who made such a poor appearance in Ejypfc were unable to storm the strong Turkish positions on Gallipoli, but they did duty for months in maintaining themselves suspended between the rocks and the water.