22 JANUARY 1916, Page 2

Mr. Barnes, the Labour Member, in an excellent speech put

the common-sense point of view w hen he said that people who declared that they would not even state their case to the tribunals must be all owed to wear the martyr's crown. In the course of a debate upon another amendment, Mr. Cowan told an excellent story to illustrate how easily conscientious objection might degenerate into mere selfishness. A man was asked why he had lodged a conscientious objection under the Vaccination Act. He replied : " I don't know much about it, but my wife doesn't like the child to keep her awake at night."