PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 54, 7 June 1916, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

MILITARY SERVICE BILL.

Bus Beehb AaaocuTioN

Wellington, June Ci

This afternoon the Hon.se proceeded with the discussion in committee of the Military Service Bill. Mr J. McCombs (Lyttelton), argued that it was desirable to have the Bill considered by a special committee. In Clause 2, a proposal by Mr CL Witty (Riccarton), to substitute “registered medical practitioner” for “person” was lost by 41 votes to (5. Mr Witty, on behalf of Mr it. McCallum (Wairau), moved to amend the definition military age, by substituting twenty-one and fifty-five for twenty and fortv-six.

Speaking to the amendment, Hon Jas. Allen said that the ages in the Bill had been fixed after much careful consideration. It was not desirable to limit recruiting o. young men by raising the ago, as it was found that men over forty-five were not so amenable to training as young men of twenty. Several members contended that boys under twenty-one should not be compelled to enlist, while others advised that the ages should be left as defined bv the Bill.

Mr H. G. Ell (Christchurch South), strongly resented a remark that had been made to the effect that Parliament was desirous of obtaining single recruits in preference to married ones, because it wofalcl cost less. He bold that all classes bad done their uuty, and deprecated the introduction of party feeling in this matter. Mr P. C. Webb (Grey), at 8 o’clock moved to report progress, on th grfnmd that the public bad not bad' lime to fully consider the contents ui the Bill.

Sir J. G. Ward objected to the forms of the House being used to delay the passing of a measure that was demand

,-i !>v a large majority in the country and which was necessary to provide the Motherland and her Allies with every ounce of help that could be given. Those who opposed the Bill should take a division on the clause and accept thcdecision given.

Mr Veitch . (Wanganui), suggested that those fighting against the Bill should realise that they,were in a small minority, and devote their best efforts to making thy Bill as useful a,s possible. He himself reserved jtfie right to vote against th’e financial proposals if he deemed them, t The discussion ’, was continued n\ Messrs BayAeVWebh, Walker, and Hindmarsh. Mr Payne warned the House that there was grave fear of engendering industrial trouble unless lime was given for further consideration.

At 9.80, the amendment was lost, on division, by 50 to 5.$ Referring to the military age question, Hon. Jas. Allen pointed out that the proposed amendment would cut out some 10,000 men who were under tweu ty-*)«e r »which would- meair calling-out' the second division much sooner than would he necessary jf agg ;A \vas. r.e tainedjj.at twenty, tt was also found that .listen made good at: twenty." Besides, trainingvoceufiied'' some months after enlistment. At ido.Bo, Mr Massey protested against the scandalous obstruction and waste of time, being shown. The divi sions liad shown the feeling of mem hers, and he felt certain that the hug majority was in favor of compulsion. He asked members';to think of the men who had died last week in the NoriJSea, and the others who were dying ii the trenches every day in the great struggle. It was unseemly that this obstruction should go on, and he urged members to do their part by dealing with the business in an earnest man ner. At five minutes to eleven a division was taken on the amendment that linage be raised from twenty years to twenty nine, and this was rejected by 40'to 15. Clause 2 was passed at 11.15 p.m. Wellington, June 7. After the Telegraph Office closed, the House continued the discussion of clause J, which was finally passed. Clauses 5 and 6 passed with unimportant amendments.

Progress was reported, and the House rose in 2.25.

PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Wellington, June 6

The Minister for Internal Affairs made a statement in the House to-day, regarding patriotic funds, showing that the funds received by patriotic societies throughout the Dominion, amounts disbursed. and the balance in hand at 31st December, 1915.

The table compiled by the Department showed that the funds collected amounted to €1.492.954. There ban been administered for relief, £11,327; equipment and goods purchased, €Bu.597; remitted overseas for special purposes, €381,675; expenses and refunds. €32,465; funds in hand on 31st December,' 1915, €980,890. The Department, in addition, received large sums from private donors and other sources to add to this. Other sums are known to be in hand, but had not been audited. The contributions of the people of the Dominion for patriotic purposes will amount to. if not exceed, two million pounds.