COMPULSION BILL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2766, 9 May 1916, Page 5

COMPULSION BILL

TEXT OF THE MEASURE PENAL PROVISIONS MR LLOYD GEORGE'S SPEECH i Br Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ("Times", and Sydney "Sun" Services.) Lontian, May 6. The full text of tho Compulsion Bill' is contained in fourteen clauses. It is entitled the Military Service Act, 1916. Eligiblcs are defined as every male British "subject who has attained the age of eighteen years, and attained tho ago of forty-one years, and who, 'at any. time since August 14, ■ v')lo, has beeu,' or for tho time leing, is ordinarily resident in Great Britain. The time of service stated is for the period of the war. No penalties are mentioned except for those refusing to produce exemption certificates when authoritatively asked for, but Section 6 says that dur-' ing the continuance of the war Section 17 of the Reserve Forces Act, 18S2, which relates to offences of deserters and absentees, shall have effect. Clause 9 provides' for the carrying on of civil work by empowering . the Army Council to transfer men to the reserves in the general interest of the country.

BADLY RUN WAR'MEANS ! A BAD PEACE .. MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S WAR PHILOSOPHY London, May 7. Mr. Lloyd George, in his speech at Conway, said that the number cf men equipping our Navy with munitions was almost equal to the number engaged by Franco in making munitions for. the French Army. Replying to some of his best 7 iberal friends, whom his fervour in prosecuting the war had somewhat shocked, Mr. Lloyd George emphasised the fact that a\badly conducted war meant a bad peace, which was no peace. ."In conducting war," he said, "a .Government should be not only resolute, but should appear resolute and ready to face the horrors of va'r. I? peoplo have 'confidence in their leaders, the nation's spirit is a propellant to its arinies. It is, therefore, important that whatever happens the people should be confident that the Government is doing its best in the firmest and most resolute manner .in the conduct of the war."

Aji unanimous vote of confidence in Mr. Lloyd George was passed. Mr. Lloyd Georgo afterwards addressed an' immense overflow meeting. "A.G.G." RETURNS TO THE CHARGE. (Rec. May 8, .11.30 p.m.) London, May 8. Mr. A. G. Gardner (editor of the "Daily News") has addressed a further letter to Mr: Lloyd George, in .wliicli lie says: "It is nuicii easier to say assassin and speak of poison gas tlian to meet the accusations which you know are true, and to which you have given, no answer. Yours is a swift but shallow mind, which has made you contemptuous of_ more stable 'and more trustworthy 'minds. Self-hypnotised, you are persuaded that you, and you alone, can save the nation. The charge was not that yoy had disagreed with Mr. Asquith, but that you had agreements with Mr. Asquith's declared enemies." • . [Mi. A. G. Gardner was the author lof the open letter which Mr. Lloyd I George replied to/'in his speech at' Coil- | >y«y.] ,

LORD DERBY AND HIS CRITICS WHY HE DID NOT RESIGN. I London, May 7. Lord' Derby, speaking at Manchester in repl,v to critics, said that had ho resigned in March, the military authorities would not liavo been prepared to say . that compulsion was a military necessity. He would have been unable to take • a stand' without the backing of tho figures. •

AUSTRALIA'S POLICY . AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT, i (Rec. May 8, 10.40 p.m.) i Melbourne, May 8. Senator Poarce (Federal Acting-l'rime Minister), replying to a peaco deputation, stated that tho Government had iiofc decided, for conscription.