PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1916, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

MILITARY SERVICE BILL. DISCUSSION CONTINUED. By Telegraph.—Press Association Wellington, Laßt Night. This afternoon the' House proceeded with the discussion in committee of the Military Service Bill. Mr. J. McCombs \ i-y ttelton), argued that it was desirable to have the Bill considered by & special committee.

In Clause 2, a * proposal by Mr. <J, Witty (Riccartou), to substitute "regißtercd medical practitioner" for ''person'* v. as lost by 44 votes to 6,

Mr. Witty, on behalf of Mr. B. McCallum (Wairau), moved to amend the definition military age, by substituting twenty-one and fifty-live for twenty And forty-six.

Speaking to the amendment, Hob, Jm. Allen said that the ages in the Bill had been fixed after much careful eonlimit recruiting of young men by raising the age, ns it was found that men over forty-five were not so amenable to training as young men of ttventy. Several members contended that boy* under twentj'-one should not be compelled to enlist, while others advised thai the nges should be left as defined by tha Bill. *

-Mr. 11. 0. Ell (Christchurch South), strongly resented a remark that had bMn made to the efleet that Parliament vu desirous of obtaining single recruits in preference to married ones, because it would cost less. . He held that all classes had done their duty, and deprecated the introduction of party feeling in this matter.

Mr. P. C. Webb (Grey), at 8 o'dodf, moved to report progress, on the ground that the public had not had time to folly consider the contents of the Bill. , Sir ,T. G. Ward objected to tbe form* of the House being used to delay the passing of a measure thai was demanded by 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 dlvision on the clause and accept the dfleibion given. 1 s

Mr. Veitch (Wangantii), suggested that those fighting against the BUI should realise that they were in a small; minority, and devote their beat effort!* to making the Bill as useful as possible. He himself reserved the right to vote against the financial proposals if ho deemed them unsatisfactory.' j The discussion was continued by Messrs. McC'oinbs, Payne, Webb,. Walker, and Hindmarsh. Mr. Payne warned jhe' House that there was grave fear of Jplgendoring industrial trouble unless tima was given for. further consideration. '

At 9.30, the amendment was lost, oa 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 twentyone, which would mean calling out the second division much 'sooner tH(m would be necessary if the age was retained at twenty. It was also found that men made good soldiers at twenty. Besides, training occupied some roonlht after enlistment.

.At 10.30, Mr. Massey protested against the scandalous obstruction andwaste of time being -shown. The dlvi. sions had shown the feeling of members,' mid he felt certain that the liuge majority was in favor of compulsion. He asked members to think of the men who had died last week in the North Sea, and the others who were dying In 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 busi. ness in an earnest manner.

At five minutes to eleven (i division was taken on the amendment th&t the age be raised from twenty years to twenty-one, and this was rejected by 40 to 15.

Clause 2 was passed at 11.45 p.m. (The discussion ori the Bill -was still 'eing continued when the telegraph office closed at 2 a.m.)