Mr. W.M.R. Pringle, Liberal ur. for Lanark, said that there was nothing in the Bill to prevent putting men coming under its clauses under martial law for industrial purposes. He pointed out that Mr. Lloyd George had talked of the need of indus: rial compulsion and brought forward an amendment to prevent men under the Bill being employed against their will on civilian work.
The Rt. Hon. A. Bonar Law repeated the assurances given by the Government on this subject. He said that Mr. Lloyd George was equally bound with any other member of the Cabinet to see that the Bill was not used for industrial compulsion. The Army authorities objected to the insertion of the actual words proposed because it would differentiate between men enlisted under the Bill and ordinary members of the same regiment. He appealed to the House not to insert the amendment.
The amendment was withdrawn.
Sir John Simon said that in spite of all the Government had done wat impossible to make the Bill table to the conscientious oblector and to remove fears of industrial compulsion. Abstention from voting would be interpreted to mean that opposition to the Bill had been overcome and he must therefore vote against it.
Sir John Simon spoke amid impatient interruptions.
Mr. J. H. Thomas, Labour u.p. for Derby, accepted the assurance given by the Government that the Bill was not intended to be used for industrial Conscription. He would do his utmost to see the Bill carried out though he considered it was not justified.
The Rt. Hon. A. Bonar Law dwelt on the remarkable change in the feeling of the House since the Bill was introduced. There w: now not @ single member who wat not determined to make the Bill produce the good-results which the Government expected. We had secured by the Bill a million men who are absolutely necessary for victory. He paid a tribute to the sacrifices made by the working
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.