THAT MISSING BILL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3178, 31 August 1917, Page 8

THAT MISSING BILL

MR. M'COMBS ASKS ANOTHER QUESTION WHERE DID THE BILL COME FROM? The House of RepreseUatives beard a little move yesterday oi the missing copy of the Military Service Ajnenduient Bill, one section of which proved a reduction of the minimum aj;o for -inlitary service from 20 years lo iy years. "I understand, Mr. .Speaker,'' <?aid M.r. M'Combs, "that 110 Bills are printed that have not the approval of the Prime .Minister, or that' the House have not ordered,to be printed. I want to know, sir, how this i;nmc to bo printed. This is part of a. Bill. The.marginal note is 'Men on attaining the aye of 19 years to be liable for service with the Expeditionary Force/" Mr. M'Combs read the clause, -which provided simply for the amendment of the definition of military age, and for the enrolment of ineu on attaining the age of 19 years, "I want to know," Mr. M'Combs continued, "how this camc to be printed if it was not authorised/by the Prime Minister, who, by the way, declared he knew nothing about it, for we know it was not authorised by the House." Mr. Massey: t want lo know whether the honourable member referring to Cabinet or to the- House? Mr. M'Combe: I understand the Government Printer does not print: Bills unless they arc sent to him to bo printed with the authority of the Prime Ministor. Mr. Massev: That is not correct. Vny Cabinet Minister who is in charge of a Bill arranges himself for the printing of the Hill, sometimes before he brings it befovc Cabinet. 1 should like to know whero the honourable gentleman got thin Bill. There is only ono way of getting it, and it is by a very dishonourable method. Sir. M'Combs: Quite an honourable method as far as 1. am "•concerned. Ad hon. member: Traitors in the camp. Mr. Mussey: . . . When the qu,c.->-tion was sprung upon me the other day in the House 1 was not; dear a.s to what had happoned. .1. have thousands of documents passing through my handsaw Primo Minister, and it is not possible for mo to remember every one of them. Hut what I said was absolutely correct. Tho Bill to which the honourable! gentleman refers was not dealt with by Cabinet, and has not been dealt v;ilh by Cabinot, nor will it bo dealt with by Cabinet until we bavo dealt with the Bill for tho shortening of the hours of licensed houses. I challenge the honourable member to tell the House where be got the Bill. Mr. M'Combs: I Trill tell you to-mor-row. Mr. Massey: The Bill is not mine. J. havo had nothing to do with ii.