COMPULSION BILL PASSED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2773, 17 May 1916, Page 5

COMPULSION BILL PASSED

AN ANIMATED DISCUSSION SMALL SHOPKEEPERS' ANXIETY PLEA FOR EXEMPTION By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Extraordinary. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Sorvices.) (Bee. May 16, 5.25 p.m.) London,; May 15. The Compulsion Bill (Military Service Bill) has passed the House of Commons. (Rec. May 10, 10.35 y.m.) London, May 16. There was an animated discussion in the House on the report stage of tho Military Service Bill. The central lobby was crowded with small shopkeepers anxious to induce tho House to exempt sole heads of businesses. The Government had long promised to circularise the tribunals, instructing them to give special consideration to such cases. LAST OF THE "DERBY MARRIEDS" CALLED UP. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. May 16, 5.15 p.m.) . London, May 15. The last of the married men on the Derby list \iavo been culled up for Juno 10. AUSTRALIAfGOVERNMENT'S POLICY WAR COMMITTEE'S ADVICE IGNORED The Federal Government last week announced its policy on the question of conscription. The fact was cabled briefly at the time, but the following report of. tho statement presents a number of new and interesting facts. • Some time ago the War Committee, composed of representatives from both sides of the House, iccouimondcd tho Government to fix. an early date for a minimum number of hew recruits, and to make a public intimation that if the number were not forthcoming by tho specified date the whole question of the voluntary system would bo reviewed. The Acting-Prime Minister (Senator Pearce) subsequently announced that the Government was not prepared to adopt this recommendation. The reasons that actuated tho Government were declared ,to bo of such a nature that they could not bo mado public. The Government, however, desired to inform members of these reasons, and consequently a secret session of Parliament was held in the Senate Club Room, when a fuller statement of the position of the Government than thai mado in Both Houses during the afternoon was submitted by the Acting-Prime Minister. The procedure was unique in the history of the Commonwealth Parliament. Extraordinary precautions were taken against the intrusion of "strangers," and even tho services of "Hansard" reporters, who usually record the speeches of members, were dispensed with. It was immediately on the assembling of the House that the Acting-Prime Minister, having received "leave to make a statement," said that on November 26, 1915, tho Commonwealth Government cabled to, tho Imperial authorities offering to increase its contribution of troop 3 by 50,000 men, and also undertaking to supply each month the necessary reinforcements. On tile basis upon which .reinforcements were then required it was calculated that, with tho additional num. her named in this offer, Australia would havo raised by the end of June, 1916, for active service abroad, 256,000 men. On February 17 tho War Office cabled advising that tho percentage of reinforcements required was substantially reduced. On January 28 tho Secretary of State for tho Colonics cabled that:— "As a result of communication with the general officer commanding in Egypt and on further consideration of tho offer of tho Commonwealth Government convoyed in tho cablegram of November' 26 to pro7ido three additional Australian divisions, War Office suggest that as thero U at present in Egypt a largo accumulation of Australian and New Zealand oersonneL the formation of two

of the three additional Australian divisions should be begun in at osco— it is hopea that your Government will agree m principle to these proposals." On January SO General Birdwood, the general officer commanding, cabled expressing the hope that the suggestion contained in the War Office cablegram for the organisation of two divisions in Egypt and one only in Australia, would be adopted, and put in hand at once, and stating that tho question of the dis-' posal of the large accumulation of reinforcements and returned convalescents in Egypt was urgent, and, in tho interest .of the discipline, well-being, and training of the troops of the Commonwealth, required early settlement. On February 2 the Commonwealth Government cabled the Secretary of State for the Colonies agreeing to the War Offico proposals. On the same date General Birdwood was informed of the Government's decision, and ho replied as follows on the following day:—

'Thank you very much for your cable|iam of February 2. Am most irrata. nil for all the consideration which has been shown me."

.These communications had an important effect on the numbers which it was contemplated would have been required, and also on tho period over which they would have to be raised, as they meant that, in order to comply with the promise of the Government aslmodified at the request of tho War Office, 209,000 troops would require to be dispatched by the end of June, 1910. It would he seen that tiiese modifications were made at the request and on the suggestion of tho War Ofhce, and were not proposed by the Commonwealth Government. At the same time the Government did not take tho now that its offer of November 26 exhausted tho possibilities of Australia as far as contribution of fighting troops was concerned, and the Acting Prime Minister in statements made had endeavoured to mako this point clear, and had appealed to the various recruiting organisations throughout the Commonwealth to continue their efforts to gain recruits. The latest available figures showed that up to May 6 thero had embarked,from Australia 189,000 troops, and thero'were in training throughout Australia approximately 62,000, making a total of 251,000. On April 12 last the Federal Government roferred to the Federal Parliamentary ,War_Conimittee the following minute:— "While Government takes entire responsibility for deciding as to voluntary or compulsory service, and does not invite the Federal Parliamentary War Committee to make any recommendation thereon, it is desired to ascertain from the committee whether, in view of the necessity of efficiently maintaining our industrial and commercial life, together with the responsibilities of Australia in this war, and in comparison with the contributions of other Dominions, the committee is of the opinion that tho Commonwealth is adequately represented at ■ the front. The committee is. therefore invited to offer any advice or recommendation, with a view to tho improvement of the present system of recruiting."

On the ahovo the Federal Parliamentary War Committee made the following recommendation:—

"The committee notes ttat the Government does not submit to it the question of voluntary service as compared with universal compulsory service. The committee, without expressing any views on the question of the comparative contributions of the other Dominions, is of tho opinion that Australia is not adequately represented- at the front. It recommends that tho Government fix an early date for a minimum number of new recruits, accompanied by a public intimation that if the number be not forthcoming by the specified date tho whole question of the voluntary system will be reviewed."

"The Commonwealth Government," said the Minister, "cannot see its way to adopt this recommendation for the following reasons:—l. It cannot be definitely stated how long tho war is likely to last, consequently tho time within which Australia will be required to send men to the front is indefinite. It is pointed out that in the early stages of the war, it was urged upon the Government to fix upon a definito number—loo,ooo—as the contribution of the Commonwealth to tho Empire. If this suggestion had been adopted it would without any doubt have had a disastrous effect on recruiting because, when the number decided upon had been raised, it would havo been contended that Australia had fulfilled, its obligations. Tho same objection holds pood now against fixing any definito number. 2. The Government cannot agreo to fix a definite date after which it will promiso to reconsider the whole question of voluntary enlistment. Thero are'reasons, which are confidential, why a date should not now be fixed. 3. The Prime Minister of tho Commonwealth is at present in the "United Kingdom in tho closest consultation with tho lmnari\l authorities,