THE DEFENCE BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10111, 5 October 1910, Page 5

THE DEFENCE BILL.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS.

THE THIRD READING

(By Tele^rapu—.Press Association 0 WELLINGTON, Last Night..

On the motion that the amendment 1 in the Defence Bill made in Committee be agreed to, Sir Joseph Ward, in the House of Represents tives this afternoon, explained the alterations made, and expressed his approval of them. Before the new law had been in operation fur many years, he expected to And the men in the Defence Force taking a great interest in their work, and it would be regarded as an honour to belong to the forces. He looked forward with hope to the satisfactory working 'of the Act, but anticipated that it might be necessary to make alterations at a future time, owing to the development of the country. Mr J. Alien ctnsidered that too much had been left to regulations. Hejjhad, however, been anxious to see the main provisions carried. He was fat from thinking that the Bill was peifcct, arid he asned with the Minister fur jjeftu.ee ihai in all probability it would hfcve to be amended in a year or two. Be was afraid thut if attempts wtre made to force compulsory drill in camp on the Territorials it would mult in men leaving.

Sir Joseph Ward, in replying, said that, in regard to the training of Territorials, and the amount of drill they were to receive in camp, this would be dealt with in the regulations. When in camp the men would receive pay and rations, and it was j not unreasonable that they should he called upon to serve six davs a year in camp. Strictly speaking, there were not two systems, as if a sufficient number of men voluntarily joined the Territorials, there would be no necessity to enforce the compulsory system. In regard to non-commis-sioned officers, who would be prevented by new regulations from serving the full term to earn war medals, he considered they should receive favourable consideration. He would undertake to see that this was done. The report was agreed to. | On the motion that the Bill be I read a third time, Mr Masaey con- ] gratulated Parliament on finding a solution to a number of the difficulties presented by the Bill. It was, he said, a great picy that so much nf the Defence system was ; hft to regulations. He urged the keeping out ot political influence in the selection of officers. The debate was continued by Messrs Newman, Forbes, Buchanan and Jenningß. The House rose at 5.30. The debate was continued at the evening sitting, when the Bill was freely criticised.