MILITARY SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1916, Page 8

MILITARY SERVICE.

DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT. ME. ALLEN'S VIEWS. By Telegraph.—Press Association, Wellington, Last Night. Iu the House this afternoon, lion. James Allen, in\moving the second reading of the Military Service Bill, said 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 start', the work of the women, and the patriotic societies and local bodies in promoting recruiting. Under the voluntary principle we had enrolled and equipped 40,000 men and 351 nurses. The Maoris numbered 1010 and the Nuie Islanders 148. Reinforcements now in training numbered 11,300. The main body numbered 7,750, and a promise was given that the force should be 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 he considered compulsory national service was just, democratic and scientific. His personal opinion was that it should have been introduced from the start. Personal ideals had to be put aside to secure unity of purpose. Up till now the voluntary principle had evidently been successful, and might remain so, but it was necessary to have the backing of compulsory service. The 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. Allen explained the enrolment of divisions and outlined the provisions relating to enrolment of men \vl\o failed to e'nrol. He then referred to the callingup of divisions, men for whom would be balloted for. The selected men would be gazetted, and transferred 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 voluntary principle had failed in the Nortli in the American civil war, but he did not assert that the position in New Zealand was analogous to that in the States. But it was deemed advisable to have the former back tip the voluntary system by one compulsory national reserve. They had only one object, namely, to win the war, and he hoped recruiting would be so stimulated that it would be unnecessary to introduce compulsion. He supposed that the greatest opposition would come from those who thought compulsion repugnant in a free and democratic country, but he held that the fact of the richest man in the land fighting alongside the poorest was a complete answer to those who contended that compulsion was undemocratic. He did not agree with the contention that married men should go before single men, and Division 1 included single men, who would be called upon to go first. The Appeal Board would not be composed of military men, but would be placed under the Minister of Munitions, so that it might have the complete confidence of the country. He believed that under the Bill no shirker would be left in Division 1. Mr. Allen stated that married men who had enlisted had done so of their own free will, and would still have that privilege, excepting where single men failed to enlist, when, the voluntary system may be suspended. The Bill was necessary in order to keep New Zealand's promise to the Motherland. We gave a pledge and it would be fulfilled. It was necesary to keep our word to those who had gone to win, and animate them to still further deeds of sacrifice. It was necesary to maintain our self-respect, and he was confident that our effort would make for nobler and better tilings. Mr. T. M. Wilford said he was in favor of the principle of the Bill, though he would combat some of the provisions when the Bill got into Committee. Mr. G. Witty said he approved of the Bill in theory, but he was afraid of it I in practice. He did not feel secure regarding the Appeal Board. The Government should have dealt with the cost of living before bringing the Bill down, so as to ensure that those men who did go to the war, leaving dependents, would know that their families would be properly cared for. The Government should remember that a man's life was worth more to him than another man's money. Every man leaving New Zealand should be insured by the Government for at least £IOO, and lie should be able to keep on the policy at a small premium if he returns safely. He was afraid of the clause where the final appeal was to the Governor-in-Council. He wished it made clear by the Minister that men on important private duties, essential to the State, should be in the same position as if engaged on foreign service. He was confident young men who married before the end of 1015 should have the serious consideration of the Minister, and lie hoped, suggestions made in Committee for improvements would not be taken as indicative of opposition to the Bill. Dr. Newman said that whereas the country was against conscription at the beginning of the war the position was now reversed, and the country was now in favor of compulsion. He pointed out 'that conscription had been enforced in New Zealand in ISSS 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 been shown in bringing the Bill down. He said that under the voluntary system we practical} - had men available up till Christmas. He contended that the change had not at present been shown to be necessarv. Mr. P. C. Webb denied that it had not been shown that conscription was essential, ' and urged conscription of

wealth as a. corollary to the conscription of men. Mr. C. E. Statham strongly urged the system of Imperial national service. He did not consider it a fair thing to tonscript ihc Maori race. The House rose at .11.15 ]>.iu.

IMPORTANT POINTS. Some of tin; subsequent clauses of the Military Service Bill are of such an important and far-rcacliing nature that it is as well to publish them in full. They read as under: — Every person who employs or retains in liis service any man who lias deserted from or is absent without leave from the Expeditionary Force shall be guilty of an offence "punishable on summary conviction by imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months, or by a fine not less than £SO and not more than £IOO, unless the defendant proves that he did not know, that the man so em-, ployed 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 lie was customarily known on the first day of November, 1915, shall be guilty of an offence punishable on. summary conviction by imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months or by a fine not exceeding £SO. Every man who after being enrolled in the Reserve changes his place of abode shall within foruteen days thereafter give notice of the fact and of his new abode by registered letter addressed to the Government Statistician at Wellington. Every man of military age who, hefore his enrolment in the Reserve and whether before or after the passing of this Act, changes or lias changed his place of abode as set out in the return furnished by him under the National Registration Act, ID 15, shall within fourteen days after the passing of this Act. or after such change of abode (whichever date is the later) give notice of the fact and of his new abode by registered letter addressed to the Government Statistician at Wellington. Every person who, being required ■by this section to give notice of a change of abode, fails to do so in accordance with this section, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £2O.

HAVE YOU, OR, WILL YOU? One of the most interesting clauses of the Bill is No. 41, which fully bears out the remark made by,the Prime Minister some days ago that the Bill would be a shock to Uiirkers, It reads as follows: (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 be supposed to be of military age a'', to any or all of ':he following matters namely. His name, occupation and abode, the date of his birth, his enrolment in the Reserve, and any other matters relevant to the question of his membership of the Reserve of 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 for any term not exceeding three months or by a fine not less than £lO and not more than £SO, and any man reasonably suspected of any such offence may be arrested without warrant by any constable.

Provision is made for the publication of the names of men discharged or exempted from foreign service, and for the transfer, when the Minister of Defence considers it necessary, of men from'the Reserve to the Samoau Ex-, peditiouary Force,

VOLUNTARY ENLISTMENT. The last clause of the Bill is of special interest. It tolls the knell of the man who will not offer himself. It reads: — (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 reservists in the Expeditionary Force shall, at a day to be specified in the Proclamation, cease either throughout New Zealand or in any recruiting district or districts specified in the Proclamation. Any such Proclamation may be 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 be enlisted in the Expeditionary Force otherwise than by calling, up for service under the provisions of this Act. (3) After the day so specified 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 be enlisted in the Expeditionary Force otherwise than by calling up for service under the provisions of this Act. (4) Officers'of the Expeditionary Force may be appointed in the same manner as if no such Proclamation had been made. (5) No enlistment shall be invalid because made i.n breach of this section. (■(i) Save as provided in this section, nothing in this Act shall preclude the voluntary enlistment of members of the Expeditionary Force in accordance with the provisions of the principal Act.