MILITARY SERVICE BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 June 1916, Page 5

MILITARY SERVICE BILL.

"" * sons FIGHTING SPEECH EY MR. ISITT LABOR MEMBERS' OPPOSITION, By Telegraph.— Press Association, Wellington, 'Last .Night.. In Resuming the debate on the Military Service Bill to-dav, Mr. ,T. Craigio (Timaru), said that he would support the measure. He deplored the fact chat i youths of 18 and 19 years of age had gone forward to fight, a» also had those men with four or five children, whilst single men who were really eligible' had remained behind. The Bill tended inorr towards equality of sacrifice than the' present system. ' n M /'i s ' Y: J?earee (Pa*™), regretted that the BUI had not been brought forward at the close of last session. He considered that the National Registra-1 tion, scheme had been put into operation in a slipshod manner. The Bill was a, ?opd one, and would be improved with a few amendments. i.i Mr i-n" rcCa,l " nl (Wairau), supported the Bill but was strongly opposed to any undue development of a military spirit. He considered that infants in the eyes of the law-should not be conscripted, and the age might be extended to fifty-five. He complained of the attitude of "up-start" officers who were unaccustomed to handling men,, and would vote against the third reading unless the effect of the Bill was limited to the present war. Mr. L. M. lsitt (Christehurch North), said that he stood four square in favor of the Bill. He would support legislative conscription every time before moral conscription took to the bed and left the shirker and blatherskite to perpetuate the race. He deplored the statement that the effect of the Bill would bo to/ strangle the liberties of the people. This he stigmatised as balderdash. Audiences he had addressed in Hie South Island embarrassed speakers by their demand for conscription. The prospect of the Bill buing passed had already had an effect in stimulating recruiting, and every man who had the interests of wives and children at heart should welcome the Bill, because, under it, 40,000 single men were availably for a year, and probably the war. would not last for that time. He pleaded for consideration for conscientious objectors, like the Quakers, of whom there were' but 500 in the country (300 men and 200 women). Rather than see his wife and children violated he personally would .fight, and fight all he knew. He could not understand those people holding the views they did, but it Was so. Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh (Wellington South), asked what were the obligations of the State to young men, and what were the obligations of young men to the State? Were they mutual? He thought they were, and he asked what the Prime Minister would do with the lands of the country, in the interests of men coming back from the war. He pleaded that men who were giving up their lives should be paid properly for their services.. By the commercial law of the country those men were entitled to full compensation, but did they get it? He referred to the Bill as a "miserable abortion." The real shirkers were not the men who were not going forward to fight, but the large men who would not come forward and say what they would do for the soldiers. The large landowner, in every case, was in favor of compulsion, but he did little to assist the men going forward,' He (Mr. Hindmarsh), hoped that the country would do as well by its soldiers as America had done, where every soldier was paid pensions. Mr. R. P. Hudson (Motneka),' said he unreservedly supported the Bill, and he knew that 00 per cent, of hia | stituents were also favorable. The Bill must prove a consolation to those who had already enlisted. Mr. H. G. Ell (Christehurch South), favored the Bill, although he had been warned it would cost him his scat. That would hot affect him where duty was involved. He urged the necessity of reducing the cost of living, and also the imposition of additional taxation so that full justice might he done to the men who were making a supreme sacrifice. The Pensions Aat ought to be brought back and given further consideration. Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton), said the Bill was a belittltement of the pluck and patriotism of the people of the Dominion. He argued that there was no necessity to place the Bill on the Statute Book. > He moved, as an amendment, that the Bill be read that day three months. The amendment was seconded by Mr. A. Walker (Dunedin North), . who quoted the Defence Minister's figures #o show that recruiting had not v broken down. Mr. Walker urged that the minimum age of recruits be raised so as to prevent, immature youths going into the firingline. He also objected to those who married after August 4, 1914 being stigmatised as was proposed in the Bill. Mr. R. A; Wright (Wellington Suburbs), reported that statements had been made that men on his side were not prepared to mako sacrifices, and cited. the names, of. several members, whose sons had joined the Reinforcements. He favored the compulsory system as a just one. Mr. ,T. V. Brown (Napier), favored the Bill, and urged that, the success of the measure was dependent upon the constitution of the Service Board. Mr. E. Newman (Rangitikei), thought it would be difficult Jo work the voluntary and compulsory systems together, and it would be wise to fix. l a date when voluntary enlistment would cease. Mr. T. Field (Nelson), described the Bill as a compromise between the voluntary and compulsory systems. Ho held that men with financial obligations who were compelled to enlist should be assisted, and that conscientious l objectors should be given consideration. Mr. P. C. Webb (Grey) contended that, the Bill should be deferred for another three months. There had been no mandate from the country in support of it, and the country was not doing the right thing by the men who had enlisted. Mr. J. B. Hine (Stratford), was butprised by the amendment which had been tabled that day. The time had arrived when compulsion was necessary. He thought Advisory Boards would be required in several districts, as one would not be sufficient, and he also held that men should be conscripted if required, for civil work. The age limit should be extended. He did hot think that the war profits so much spoken of, existed in fact. Mr. J. Anstey (Waitaki), held that the Government would not bo doing its duty if it did not bring down a measure for conscripting wealth in the same drastic manner it proposed to conscript men. He spoke' in commendation of the Bill. Mr. Tau Henare (Northern Maori), said that his people were not believers in conscription, but they were willing to do their best. They did not, think-of money, but their sole aim was that we should win the war. If the money element was insisted upon, big yebpl*

would be reluctant to enlist. H 4 brought before the Government's notug the question of the Austrian menaca id the North Auckland district, and aaid that the natives there were afraid to send their sons away on account of the' fact that thousands of Austrians -wen at liberty in the North. Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh (WeUfagtort South), asserted that the Premier bad deliberately withheld the Financial Statement until war measures had been passed by the House. The amendment \vas lost by 54 vote* to 5, and the debate was pdjourned. '