PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 57, 10 June 1916, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

MILITARY SERVICE EILL PASSED. FORTY-FOUR TO FOUR. THE CONCLUDING SPEECHES. i'EB PRKSH \(*BOCIATTON. Wellington, Juno 10. Alter the Telegraph closed, Mr Wilkinson, while supporting the Hill, pointed out several delects, which, in Ins opinion, .still remain. At 2.5 o’clock, Mr Allen rose to reply. He refuted the statement that there was no mandate from the country. He condemned the attitude taken np by the opponents of the HiliThey were misled, and, what was worse, they were misleading. Dealing with religions objection, he said he had no doubt sensible appeals would be heard by the Hoard. All members of the Government had done their best t () make the Bill as workable as possible. It was recognised that much i would depend upon the military boards which would be composed of strong’ earnest men. The general idea was to make them civil boards. He was sorry they had not been able to convince those who opposed the principle of the Bill. He did not prewin 1 the Bill gave equality of sacrifice, but they had gone as new as possible. It was certainly more just and equitable 'than the voluntary system, under •which moral pressure had been exeiI t .ised at first. Ho held the quota o. men offered had not been too large, considering the resources of the country, and he felt that the majority oi the people would like to see even more. Onr forefathers had to light tor then liberties, and we had to fight lor ours, end that was what the Bill would help li-s to accomplish. There had been an ’increase of recruiting since the Hi. had been drafted, and he hoped it would so stimulate recruiting that, as in America, it would not he necessary to put into effect the compulsory clause. The Hill made it clear that thev would he able to supply the quota of men that had been promised A division was taken at 2,40, ami Die Bill was carried by 44 to 4, amidst applause and the singing of “The National Anthem.” the notorious four. The Noes were:—

Payne. McCombs. Webb, i; . Fletcher ■ Himlmarsh and Walker pairoc .against the Bill. House rose at 2.45.