PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 48, 31 May 1916, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

MILITARY SERVICE.

DERAT'D IN PARLIAMENT

MR ALLEN’S VIEWS

Per Press Association

Wellington, May 30,

In the House Ahis afternoon, Hen. James Allen, in moving the second reading oT the Military Service Bill, spiel that so far the troops required had been secured by the voluntary principle, and he wished to place on the minutes the country’s appreciation of their services. He also referred in grateful terms to the work of the staff, tlio work of the women, and the patriotic societies and local bodies in promoting recruiting. Under the voluntary principle we bad enrolled and equipped 46,000 men and 351 nurses. The Maoris numbered 1019 and the Nuio Islanders 148. Reinforcements now m training numbered 11,309. The main body numbered 7,750, and a promise was given that the force should bo maintained, but with other units it was necessary to keep up a force approaching 32,000 men. The Bill allowed the voluntary system to continue, but was backed up by a scheme of compulsory service. Mr Allen said that ho considered compulsory national service was just, democratic and scientific. His personal opinion was that it should Ipive been introduced f roni .the start. Personal ideals had to .bo put , aside To isycufe unity of purpose., MJp till, now the: voluntary principle■•V.H’ad, evidently .been successful, aml'mighf remain so, but it w;;.,s necessary-to have the hacking .d " compulsory service. r lhc voluntary principle had drawn largely on our resources, but the paramount duty was to see that there was no shortage in our quota of troops until the end of the war.

Mr Alien explained the enrolment of divisions and outlined the provisions relating to enrolment of men who failed to enrol. He then referred to the calling up ot divisions, men for whom would he balloted for. Ihe selected men would be gazetted, and transfeired the day after to the active list, and then called up at once to meet at a rendezvous appointed. Men had the right to appeal. Power was proposed under the Bill to-enable the Governor-in-Council to revoke voluntary enlistment in certain districts. He pointed out that the failed in the North ih the American civil war, hut he did tlutt the position in New Zealand was analogies to that in the States. Hut it was' deemed advisable to have the foi me, back up the voluntary' system by one compulsory national reserve. They had only one object, namely, to win the war, and ho hoped recruiting would be so stimulated that it would he unnecessary to introduce compulsion. He supposed that the greatest opposition would come from those who thought compulsion repugnant in a fiec and democratic country, but he held that the fact of the richest man in the land fighting alongside ihe poorest was a complete answer to those who eontended that compulsion was undemocratic. He did not agree with the contention that married men should go Defore single men, and Division 1 clucled single men, who would be called upon to go first. The Appeal Board would not he composed of military men, but would he placed under the Minister of Munitions, so that it might have the complete confidence of the country. He believed that under thr Bill no shirker would he left in Division 1 Mr Allen stated that married men who had enlisted had done so of their own free will, and would stdl have that privilege, excepting whore single men failed to enlist, when the voluntary system may he suspended. llm Bill was necessary in order to keep New Zealand’s promise to the Motherland. We gave a pledge and it would he fulfilled. It was necessary to keen our word to those who had gone to win, and animate them to still further deeds of sacrifice. It was necessary to maintain our self-respect, and ho was confident that our effort would make lor nobler and better things. Mr T. M. Wilford said he was m favor of the principle of the Bill, though he would combat some of the provisions when the Bill got into Committee. Mr (J. 'Witty said he approved of theBill in theory, hut he was afraid ol >t in practice. He did not fee! secure regarding the Appeal Boavd. The Co vernment should have dealt with the cost of living before bringing the Bus down, so as to ensure that those 1..-11 who did go to the war, leaving dependents, would know that their Bundies would he properly cared for. lue Ckvernment should remember that a man’s life was worth more to him than another man’s money. Every man leaving New Zealand should he insured by j the (iovernment for at least X'IJO, and lie should he able to keep on the policy at a small premium if he returns sa!c----y. He was afraid of the clause w’leio the linal appeal was to the Governor-

in-Comioil. He wished it made clear b\ the Minister that men engaged on 'important private duties, essential to tue State, should lie in the sa.no pus.turn as if engaged on foreign service, lie was eonlident young men who manud before the end of 1915 should ) ave the serious consideration of the Munster, and lie hoped suggestions made in Committee lor improvements would not be taken ns indicative of opposition to the Hill. Dr. .Newman said that whereas ile country was against conscription at the beginning of the war the position was now i oversell, and the country was now in favor of'Compulsion. He pointed out that conscription had men • nforced in New Zealand in 1858 by the Militia Act. History showed that countries that did not invoke conscription were likely to go to the wall, and he hoped the Bill would pass.

Dr. Thacker complained that the section providing for voluntary enlistment gave the Government too much power. He complained that undue haste had bfccn shown in bringing the Bill down. Ho said that under the voluntary system we practically had men available up till Christmas. He contended that the change had not at present been shown to he necessary. r

Mr P. C. Webb denied that it had not been shown that conscription was essential, and urged conscription ol wealth as a corollary to the conscrip tion of men. MrC. E. Statham strongly urged the system of Imperial national service. He did not consider it a fair thing to conscript the Maori race. , The House rose at 11.15 p.m.

Mr Webb said that the object ol the Bill, in his opinion, was to produce cheap soldiers. It was also an instil, to the Dominion which had done so well under the voluntary system. He contended that the Bill had not been bebefore, the electors, and no attempt had been made to curtail the cost of living. ■MrC. 1 Ah '-Wilkinson considered that tlio country would hack up the Government in bringing down the measure. The Bill was a sign of strength. It was known there were shirkers who op posed the Bill,, and they were lighting a poor cause indeed. Under the voluntary system immature boys had been sent to the;,front while able-bodied men were staying at home. It was apparent that-the Bill already had good effect in stimulating recruiting. Ihe clause relating to conscription ol married men would have to be carefully considered, as many might he ruined d compelled to give, up their engagements at a moment’s notice;

Mr Bidey faypred compulsory service' and (Condemned,; tlie voluntary enlistment as unfair. Tlie Bill might be amended in sevoj'pl details in comm'ttee.

•Mr G. M. 'Anderson had sulliciont confidence in -the Government to he sure that suitable men would he appointed to tlie Appeal Board who would act fairly to reservists. He was pleased that the Bill did not-provide for ex cmptbns. His experience in ■ the recruiting movement was that reinforcements could not be kept up without compulsion, and he thought the Bill a good on -. Mr Payne contended that there could bo no equity about a system of compulsion that provided for the exemption of men of particular industries. The Bill would put the clock back five hundred■ years, and substitute civilian for military domination. If proper provisions. were made for the payment pi married men there was no necessity for compulsion. Hon. Dr. Pomare supported the Bill, and he read a letter from Dr. Buck strongly 'urging that- the Maori Contingent should be maintained at full strength. : '" M • • • Mr J. Talbot, while regarding voluntary 'enlistment as the ideal system, considered it wise-to have available the strong hacking compulsion would give if required. In supporting the Bill, Mr A. Harris said that the drain upon the country was-only 5 per cent,, and lie could' mit see that 95 per cent, of the population was necessary to keep the Dominion going. He welcomed the Bill as a means of discovering those who had so far failed to recognise their responsibilities.

important points. Soli 10 of tlu* •subsequent clauses of the Military Service' Bill are of an important and far-reaching nature. Ihej read as under ; Every person who employs or retains in his service any man who has deserted from or is absent without leave from the Expeditionary Force shall be guilts of an offence punishable on summary conviction by imprisonment tor any term nor exceeding three months, nr by a fine not less than £s(l and not more than £IOO, unless the defendant proves that lie did not know that the man so employed or retained in his service was a deserter or absent without leave. Every Reservist who assumes or uses or continues the use of any name other than by which he was customarily known on the first day of November, 1915, shall bo guilty •

of an olfenee punishable on summary conviction by imprisonment lor any term not exceeding three months oi bi' a line not exceeding £SO. Every man who alter being enrolled in the Reserve changes his place of abode shall within fourteen days thereafter give notice of the fact ami of his new abode by registered letter addressed to the Government Statistician at Wellington. Every man of military age who, before bis enrolment in the'Kdseive and whether before or after the passing of. this Act, changes or has changed bis place ol abode as set out iu the'return furnished by him under' the National Registration Act, 1915, shall within fourteen days after the passing of thins Act or after such change of abode (whichever date is the later) give notice of the fact and of his new anode by registered letter addressed to the Government Statistician at-Welling-ton.

Every person who, being required by this section to give notice ol a change of abode, fails to do so in accordance with this section, shall be liable on summary conviction to a line not exceeding £2O.

A SHOCK TO SHIRKERS. (a) After the enrolment of the First Division of the Reserve has been proclaimed and directed, any constable may question any man who may reasonably he supposed to he of military age as to any on all of the-ifollowing matters ."•namely: ! H'is' -name, occupation i and abode, ’ the-date, of his birth, his enrolment in the Reserve, and any-other mat--te'rs revelant to the .question ol his membership of the Reserve of any division or class thereof, or his membership of the Expeditionary Force. > (2) Any man who fails or refuses, forthwith to answer any- question .so put to him, or who answers any

such question in a false, misleading

or imperfect manner, shall be guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction by imprisonment of any term not exceeding three months or by a fine not loss than £lO and not more than £SO, and any man reasonably suspected of any such offence mav be arrested with*

( out warrant by any constable.,/ ’ Provision is made for tlie publication of the names of "fnen discharged or exempted from foreign service, and for the transfer, wheiP t£fd'Minister of DpiVtico considers ft necessary, of men from the Reserve-to the Samoan Expeditionary Force. : w ■- ,o • i VOLUNTARY ENLISTMENT. | (1) The Governor- may at any time and from time to time, by Proclamation approved by the Executive Council, proclaim that the voluntary enlistment of reservists or of any division or class of rcservisits in the Expeditionary Force shall, at a day to be specified in the 1 Proclamation, cease either throughout New Zealand or in any recruiting district or districts specified in the Proclamation. Any such -Proclamation may lie at any time in like manner revoked.

(2) After the day so specified in such a Proclamation made with respect to the whole of New Zealand, and while the Proclamation remains in force, no reservist to whom the Proclamation applies shall bo enlisted in the Expeditionary Force otherwise than by calling up for service under the provisions of this Act. ffl) After the day so spccilied in such a Proclamation made with respect to any recruiting district, and while the Proclamation remains in Force, no reservist who is resident in that district and belongs to any class or division to which the Proclamation applies shall lie enlisted in the Expeditionary Force otherwise than by calling up for service under the provisions of this Act.

(1) Officers of the Expeditionary Force may he appointed in the same manner as it no such Proclamation had been made, (5) No enlistment shall be invalid because made in breach of this section.

j <(>) Save as provided in this section, nothing in this Act shall preclude the voluntary enlistment of j members of the Expeditionary Force |in accordance with the provisions of the principal Act. GENERAL. When the House met at 2 o’clock, the petitions presented included several in the form of tin* early closing of liquor bars. In reply to a question, Hon. Jar.. Allen said that everything that could 1 post'd" he done was being carried net at Feather Jon '■■amp during the prey oil outbreak of cerebrn-spinal-meiiingitis. He thought that preenu-1 tier;: had been taken to prevent anythh'ir approaching an epidemic. although an isolated case might follow a case of measles. , Tim T’reno’ tioin! Renresentntive and I Effective Voting Bill (Mr Vcitch), was 1 read a lirst time.