London, March 29.
In the House of Commons to-day the Rt. Hon. Walter Long, President of the local Government Board, in a statement on recruit ing, said that the Government had been able to adopt nearly all Lord Derby's suggestions. A Cabinet committee has been meeting continuously, revising and reduce the lists of reserved occupations and exemption and so secured more men (Cheers). In some cases all bachelors have been released for military service.
Mr. Walter Long announced that women were replacing many men in munition-making, farming and commercial work. Over 250,000 had been found for the last. The Government was also investigating the case of men going to the coal-mines to escape military service. The result of all these changes was that the army would get very large number of men.
The Government also proposed to bring registration to date. He vigorously denied that attested married men have been unfairly treated. They must have known that they would be called on to serve.
It had been decided to call up the Ist Group boys of 18, so as to augment the Home Forces. They would not be sent abroad till they had reached the age of 19. Steps would be taken to alleviate hardships arising from enlistment, including contracts and leases.
Mr. Walter Long concluded: "The Government is doing its utmost to bring the war to a final and successful conclusion. We have striven to do our duty to our heroes at the Front (Loud cheers).
Sir Edward Carson, opening the debate, said that he believed the Derby Scheme to be a mistake. He advocate compulsion for every man in the country.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.