THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH
EXTRA
HONGKONG, FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 1917.
MILITARY SERVICE BILL PASSED.
TO-DAY'S DISCUSSION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HIS EXCELLENCY ON THE FAILURE OF THE VOLUNTARY SYSTEM.
Hongkong the military evil they to reconsider their decision, and. were at present fighting to kill application had been made to his He did not think it would do gallant friend, the General, for soything of the sort. German further unite from the already militarism was an aggressive depleted garrison. Now, he ask militarism, but this Bill was sim-ed, bad the volunteer system ply a mauenre of defence. With given them every single man they regard to the regulations, they ought to get? Be was sorry to did not appear to be at all oder say no, There were a certain Jons, but no doubt they would" "be number of perenna who had" onsidered fally and would be absolutely refused to come for. gved to.
ward, E did not want to
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to his office new-comera: who
The Hon. Mr. S. H. Dowell point to it, but it was only right. At the meeting of the Legisla. Speaking on Clause 10. he argued sid that the objection of the that he should mention that they tive Council this afternoon, the chat metrics in the Hoogkong Chamber of Commerce had been had not got all they would get Military Service Biil came up for Defence Corps should be deemed removed by the Bill being made under a voluntary system, They its second reading. As amended onlinucas service for the gain only applicable for six months bad not been going under an Bill was presented, embodying ing of Volunteer Long Service after the duration of the war. He entirely voluntary system, for olansee making members of the Decoration. The Attorney Geser went on to say that whatever gentle persuasion had been ap Bom, reorganisation might be necess plied. Under the Registration Corps, when performing military, he understood, bad
15. sim should he of Persons Ordinance, the Polios duties, entitled to pay and allow difficulty on that point, as he ry
efficiency with bad instruotioss
Bad anoes at the astme rate as mem-oortended that the granting of maximam bera of His Majesty's Regular medals was set of Baya minimum call on the time of monthly returns Forces and that the Ordinance favour. But this was not the men. His experience in the of all should continue in fares until six special Royal favour, and there Reserves had been that whatever had not joined the Volunteers. months after the conclusion of were certain regulations" psa-adegree of efficience had been They wrote to those persons and war. There were other minor and still in fores with regard teached it had not always been asked them to join. In December, amendments made. .“
Long Service Medals and breached with a minimum of time. 1915, he interviewed 75 persone thought it should be clearly stated He spoke of having been called at Government Honee, but con- in the Bill that service in the to King's Park range from 3.16 fessed that many were, medically or 3.30 and spending the rest of anft and the others had to Corps would be counted as con tinanus. He had received a com-the, afternoon just to fire ten be exempted for business res 000 occasion, nous. In September, 1916, 45 curigation with reference to the rounds, or, oo
That was ma abeolutely letters were rent out," asking - counting of each service of ex-even. Army of Naval men and be would necessary waste of time, and people why and wherefore they lay that before His Excellency he hoped each things would be hrd not joined, and as late as January last, 22 letters went out. the Governor threagh the proper avoided.
The Hon. Attorney General, He had a list before him of per channel. He also sagger'st that the word "only" should be in-replying to the objections raised, sons who hed not joined, which serted in Claues 11 before, thaid that in the case of Rome, the would probably bare formed a words "antil the expiration of ee-limit of 18 to 41 was to basis of the first summonses of * period of six months from th-provide for an off-nsive Army this new Bill. Those were hard g-inst a most highly-trained facts, and a compulsory measure conclusion of the pressuri-War,'
The Hon. Mr. B. E Pollock, KO., addressing the Council, said he was not a tisfied that a officient case had been made out for compulsory service at all here. Only a few weeks ago the Secretary of State for the Colonies congratulated them upon the fact that voluntary service in the Colony had led to very good resulta. Civil residente in the Colony had come forward angradgingly with offers of aer vice, and he thought that eme pulsion was not necessary. The improvement in the organisation so se to make it undoubtedly clear force. Strenuous and severe fight was necessary, even if there was of the existing forces and their as to the length of period the Billing was necessary, but in this one recalcitrant man who had fusion could have been brought would apply for. Mr. Pollock then Colony there would be no such not joined, especially when by his duty he would ba about by a simple measure, like went on to speak of the Regula-nd sought. Such a force as the doing that passed in the Strait Settle- tions, saying that at the present Defence Corps had a very restrict releasing fighting men to go to mente last year. H... proceeded time a good deal of waste of time ed field to call upon, and it was the front. The Hon. Mr. Pollock. mentioned that" civilian to consider various details was characteristic of the working desirable to make it as large as bad in the Bill, dealing first with of the forces. Tue majority posible. The modified training persons were better employed the question of the ages of those of residents here were engaged that those above the age of 45 making silver bullets than doing be expected ta do night work "which made them liable to serve. He thought that in what the Prime Mini-ter would
with the ant for day work, but that the age of 55 was too high, for would esil making silver hullste practically coincided they found that the Imperial far more usefully that they could cousitions which prevailed at night work did not amount as owing measure at Home only included be by being employed se mes of Singapore. That the Army Act to very moch,
numerical strength of persons between the ages of 18 the garrison. His Excellency Home only applied from year to the and 41. In the Strait Settle stated, on August 2. that compalto year was by reason of an old the local corps it meant. one mente, alibongh the age was dory acrvice for local defenor castom, and it also gave an annual night's work in about seven or 55, only those between the should be brought to ach a "pportunity for the revision of the sight weeks. He did not think ages of 18 and 40 were called pitch that it might lead to the mesenre and was also useful as a that that would do a great deal of up for military service, those reduction of the garrison, has be ever by which an unpopular harm, and he also did not believe above that age being used as a personally tought that that we Government might be compelled that any man would unwillingly Civil Guard entirely under the a wrong ideal to sim at. Ther to resign, for if a Government do it. As regards decorations for renew the Army long service, he had written Homs' control of the police. He thought all know the office of the Colony failed to that with the climate prevailing were working on considerably Act, diecipline in the Army s-king for service under the Bill would be gone And it to be counted se continuous, Ba in Hongkong the age-limit should reduced staff and that many be reduced to 45. Speaking on of the men had bezu sat in the would be forced to resigo. In would let them know the nature Clause 6 of the Bill, by which it Colony for six or seven yea Hongkong there was no fear, he of the reply.
The Council then went into is provided that the Army Act without going Home. He was thought, of civil liberties being
because ever Committee and considered the Bill ahall apply to all members convinced that both the Reserve interfered with. of the Defence Corps, he said and Volunteers would cooperate ince the war that the Imperial Parliament as loyally as they could, but there Reserves sud was very loth to impose the Army were limits to physical endurance. been Act for any long or indefinite and a mes could hardly be ex-Rights period. It was only applied from peoted to be an efficient soldier rights year to year, but in this instance it was applied for the very un certain and indefinite period of the war. He thought it would be sufficient it in this Colony the
subject
of
broke out the stage by stage. Volunteers had
On Ciznes 6, Mr. Pollock said to that Act. he would like the Government to habeas corpus give an undertaking that the of attending public Civilian rights of members would
by night and an efficient bakiness meetings and of criticism had be respected, and His Excellency man by day. In the regular been exercised from time to time the Governor replied that they forces a man on duty at night and without question, Inc. would not depart from the policy
no fear that suy, ohanga they had adopted in the past, could rest by day, and vice versa, WAS
bats civilien performing military would be made. With regard to On Clause 8, Mr. Pollock raised Army Act was made to apply in duties had combined duties to decoration for long Volustest the point again about the regala- just the same way as it now sppli-bear. He therefore ventured service, he did not think that it
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ed under section 18 of the Volunto hope that it would be borne in was within the pratiucs of that tics being approved by the teer Corpe Ordinanos. As the Bill mind that it was impossible to Council to make any regulation. Lasative Council, saying he affected such a great proportion of barn the candle at both ends. It was a matter upon which did not think it would impose the residents of the Colony, he With regard to musketry practice. His Excellency the Governor great deal of work upon the
Council, thought that the ordinary civil he deemed that the most essential could make a recommendation if
No action was taken, rights of the subject should not be part. He went on to speak of how he thought it. He had no
Mr. Pollock added that in veiw interfered with, and no doubt
a considerable part of the appre- hension which existed in regard
a body of men had in the past objection to the word "only" been summoned to the butts and being inserted in the last Clears, of the Government's pledge in His Excellency the Governor, respect to civilian rights, he how it had been impossible for to the Bill was in respect of that all to shoot, with the result that praking on Mr. Poll-ck's point would not move the amendment matter. He would, at the right there was a great waste of time, 1969 whather.com alsory military he had intended to move.
Without farther disovasion, stage, move, an amendment to He hoped that in the future that‡Cuvios was Dersary, said there
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Sale of Enemy Property?
Under instructions from the
the effect that nothing contained kind of thing could be avoided. was a great deal of diecarsion in the Bill was read a second and in the Ordinance or regulations As regarded the number of the Colony some time ago as to third time and passed, would be deemed to take away drills, the bappy Colony of whether they were doing their daty in the mastier the ordinary civil rights of mem-Cylon em:1 35 clear all
their part in bers of the Hongkong Defence cient to give a men oázak of taking Corps, including rights of habeas merit, but in soia Bil 30 is this great war. His own fesling, sorpus, the right of freedom to were made compulsory. He frankly, was to make the Volas- ter forces as strong sa possible attends public meeting, the right thought that was coint that to freely criticise Government should consider. With regard to and reduce the garrison sa manch measures, the light to write camps, eight dayn was too long as possible, and as reletes fight Liquidator of Hours. Reuter to the newspapers and the for certain potens, and he no-ing men for the front. Discussion Brockelmann and Co., F.A.A.B. the appointment Brookelmann, E. B. Fahrmann, right of jointly or separately derstood that the regelsions beslend petitioning for then dress of any been amended to provide for the of the Military Commision, Heinrich Hayn and the Estate and that went further than he of EC.L, Reuter, decessed, two grievance. It exomed necessary instamoes he had in mind... that such provision should be in- The Hon. Mr. O.E. Anton sap did and recommended compul- lots of leasehold property were eladed. On Clenes 8, that which ported the Bill, saying that Hissary service for military duties sold at the suction rooms of Both Mrs. Hughes and Hough thin gave the Governor-in-Council Excellency the General Offer outside the Colony. power to make regulations, he Commanding stated a few months those propositions went to the afternoon. The first lat, being was still of the opinion that ago that the object of war was to Secretary of State for the Colon-Island Lote 611 and 662, together such matters should be laid ensure peace, but there was alsoțies, and he favoured compulsory with godown at 126, Wanchai before the Legislative Council, a saying moes api--that the best service in order to enable every Road, fetched $27,000, while As a compromise, he suggested way to ensure peace was to availableman to come forward and Lot 2, comprising Inland Lava that the Governor-in-Council prepare for war. Great Britain do his duty and permit of a reduc- 612 and 663, together with should frame the regulations, but had gone through painful tion of the garrison. On August godown at 127, Wanchai Road, that they should be subject to and terrible experience owing to 2, be mid that the military was sold for $22,000. The par
not contam- abusers in; such instance, wera the approval of the Legislative military unpreparedness, and he sathorities did Council so that Unofficial Meme had more in the newspapers plate sy farther reduction Chinees. Messrs. Desson, Looker, bern representing the public could letter saying that if this Bill ware of the garrison, but since Desoon and Earstom were the have the right of criticism, won it would impose upon that time they had had reason solimitory concerned.