CREDITS FOR WAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20033, 4 September 1939, Page 9

CREDITS FOR WAR

£500,000,000 VOTE CONSCRIPTION PASSED MSN FORM IS TO 41 YEARS CONTINENTAL SYSTEM INJURIES MEASURE (EW. Ti'l. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Sept. 4, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 2. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Simon, in the House o\ Commons moved a credit of £500,000,000 for defence of the realm, the maintenance of public (order, and for the efficient prosecution of any war.

This was approved without a division.

The House passed by 340 votes to .seven the National Service Armed Forces Bill, which was read a second time without a division.

The bill provides that men arc liable to serve upon the issue of. a proclamation, employers must reinstate their employees and must not dismiss men liable for service. Clerks in holy orders or regular ministers are exempted. The bill docs not apply to Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. Persons not liable for service are those not ordinarily resident in Great Britain, nationals or citizens of the Dominions or British protectorates and maridated territories.

The Minister of Labour, Mr. Ernest Brown, moved the second reading of the bill.

. The bill provides for the enlistment of men from the ages of 18 to 40. Age groups will be called up as required and liability to serve is imposed by proclamation. Opposition Viewpoint

The Labour leader, supported Mr. A. Greenwood, the second reading, stressing the importance of units of the nations against aggression and emphasising the necessity for the elimination, of war profiteering. The Opposition was gratified that the bill had been received in time for discussion and the regulations imposing service had 'been submitted to Parliament.

Mr. Greenwood said he was against conscription at heart, but an entirely new situation had. been created since the last Conscription Act was passed. Therefore, the Labour Party would support it. The Labour Party was disturbed by the extension of the bill to youths of 18 years.

The Secretary for War, Mr. L. Horc-Belisha, emphasised that the Government would not necessarily start with the age of 18. It depended on how long the struggle lasted.

For the purposes of the bill it was intended to call up men in classes of age groups as on the Continent.

Mr. Hore-Belisha explained that the bill replaced the Military Training Act. He added that it did not differentiate between married and single men, unless in event of exceptional hardship. Other emergency measures were read the second time and the House was suspended at G. 23 p.m. - Personal Injuries

Introducing the Personal Injuries Emergency Provisions Bill, the Minister of Pensions, Mr. H. Ramsbothan, stated that loss or damage due to wa r was regarded as an affair of the community. Accidental injuries suffered on duty were included. The scheme applied also to those carrying on ordinary duties as the Government believed that as many people as possible should carry on their ordinary employment in the national interest.

Injury allowances would be paid without a “means test” that amount depending on tile number of dependants. Everyone was to be treated alike. The payments were to be immediate to tide the victim ever the first emergency. Immediate treatment would be given in local hospitals or private practice if the injuries were not serious. Persons suffering serious injury or disablement may receive a pension awarded on service lines. The House rose at 11.53 p.m. yesterday alter passing further emergency measures, including a bill authorising the appointment of Ministers for exercising functions in connection with prosecuting a war. The House of Lords rose at 11.51 p.m.

Royal Assent was givt'n to the bills passed in the course of the evening.