BRITISH MILITARY PROBLEM.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 102, 1 May 1916, Page 6

BRITISH MILITARY PROBLEM.

SENSATION IN THE COMMONS. LONDON, April 2S, , In the House of Commons, ( Mr. Walsh said he believed the country would. support tb e Government .ifr.it decided on all-round compulsion. . The Bight Hon. H. S. Duke deprecated the Bill. It was true that it was. introduced in a time of stress, and. did not embody the w.hol e military policy of the Government, as fc the House knew it, but in its present form it would meet an obvious fate.

Mr. Pringle dclared that ■ the. Bill was a miserable makeshift, and had not any friends. Mr. Asquith was not present during the whole debate, and was hurriedly recalled. He admitted that the Bill had not been received encouragjpgly .• iny quarter, not owing to its proposal,s. r but to the time and manner pf its..introduction. He recognised the force, of the criticisms. It might be reintroduced later, but the Government, did not wish to force a measure,which, th e House was not. prepared 1,0 accept.

Mr. Ellis Griffiths hoped the Cabinet crisis would not be re-opened when the Bill was withdrawn.

Mr. Asquith replied that he was able to reassure the House on that point. Mr. Thomas, the railwaymen's representative, opposed the Bill and said he would oppose any stronger measure. Several members appealed to Mr. Asquith to give an indication of the Government's intentions.

Mr. Asquith replied that it was impossible to say. on the spur of the moment, but he promised to draw the attention of the Cabinet to the objections of the members of the Commons, and announce -his decision next week.

Strong speeches followed. The compulsienists denounced the Government's dilatoriness, and those favouring th e voluntary system denounced 'prospective geenral compulsion.

1 Ther? was little or no surprise in the lobbies at the withdrawal of fiService Bill, as its reception was chil :, v.

Tt/if;, understood the War Council will review the situation to-morrow au submit fresh proposals.