COMPULSION BILL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2673, 20 January 1916, Page 5

COMPULSION BILL

PROGRESS-IN COMMITTEE

ATTACK ON EORD KITCHENER

WAR MINISTER. SATISFIED WITH THE BILL

By Tclcgia.pli—Press Association—Copyright

London, January 18. Mr. W. H. Long, President of the Local Government Board, in the House of Commons, resisted an amendment in favour of the automatic conscription of unmarried men as they reached the age of eighteen years. Mr. Long said that Lord Kitchener had examined the question of numbers ■with the utmost care, and hoped the Bill would pass as it stood, a 6 it would give him the men required and do all that was necessaiy to secure victory.

Sir F. G. Banbury declared' that £ord Kitchener took upon himself a great responsibility when he said that lie did not want these men.

Sir Ivor Herbert said that one of the most remarkable things of the war had boon the total eclipse of the War Minister's office behind the shadow of a figure. Lord-Kitchener had never or.ee been right.-' Ho was wrong first and last as regards recruiting. He left the country, regarding munitions, in the same Tiosition as at the beginning, and at a time of crisis we were without the necessary drafts to keep up our armies. The amendment was not pressed. SIR GEORGE REID'S MAIDEN SPEECH AN EXCELLENT IMPRESSION. (Rec. January 19, 6.15 p.m.) London, January 18. Mr. Long's amendment for exempting those who have attained the age of forty-one before the appointed date was carried. Sir John Simon moved an amendment providing that men may apply to a tribunal in order to determine whether they were entitled. to a certificate of exemption; if not so entitled,, they would be deemed to have enlisted. Mr. Asquith (Prime Minister) said he recognised that tlio amendment would not be fatal to the governing purpose of tho Bill, but he considered that the scheme in tho Bill was preferable. Under the Bill appeals could be heard by tliree impartial tribunals. Sir George Keid, in his maiden speech, which' created an excellent impression,' said that nothing less than an immediate obligation to servo could meet tlio gravity of the situation. The interests of Britain Tequired the Bill. He was not a compulsionist in the ordinary sense—Australians were ruthless democrats—bnt under the Defence Act the Commonwealth every man from tlio age of 18 to 60 wns liable to serve. He concluded: "Wliilo the glory of our Parliament in peace times is its fearless inquiry into abuses, wlion the flames of destruction are approaching the fabric of our liberty, let us save the louso first."

Mr. Long, on behalf of the Imperial Parliament, thanked Sir George Reid for his powerful words of counsel. The amendment was negatived by 282 votes to 53. MEN FORIE NAVY ADMIRALTY TO HAVE FIRST CALL. The High Commissioner reports:— London, January 18, 11.40 p.m. In the House of Commons an amendment to the Compulsion Bill, providing that the Admiralty should have first call on men, was agreed to. Dr. M'Namara (Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty) stated that tlio Admiralty needed 30,000 more men by March, aud intended on the present Supplementary. Estimate to raise the maximum from 300,000 to' 350,000. "OPPOSITION IS HYPOCRISY." URGENT APPEAL BY SOCIALIST DEFENCE COMMITTEE. London, January 18. The Socialist National Defence Committee, in a manifesto, declares that opposition to compulsion when our native land is being attacked is hypocrisy. It reminds organised labour that direct or'i indirect compulsion is the keystone of trade unionism. Every fit trade unionist not needed in war work who refuses to enlist is a humbug and a.coward. > . BRITISH CABINET THE NEW POSTMASTER-GENERAL. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, January 18. The Right Hon. J. A. Peaso, who has previously held Cabinet rank as Chancollor of the Duchy of Lancaster and President of the Board of Education, has been appointed PostmasterGeneral.