The House of Commons, before going into Committee on the
new Military Service Bill, accepted a time-limit of five days for the re- maining stages, and by sitting on Friday week and last Saturday contrived to pass the.Bill on Tuesday. In Committee on Thursday week an amendment to reduce the military age from fifty-one to forty-eight was rejected by 262 votes to 151. Sir Auckland. Geddes. resisted it on the ground that the higher age-limit would give the. Government a wider field from which to select the. physically fit. All men who were now liable to serve would be medically examined as soon as possible, to remove their uncertainty as to their position. Certain trades, to be announced very soon, would not be touched.. On Friday week the clause empowering the Government to raise the military age to fifty-five by Order in Council was modified. A reso- lution from each House will be required before such an Order can be issued. On Monday the Government abandoned the proposal to call up ministers of religion, including the Irish priests.
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