After the amendments to widen the gap for conscientious objectors
had either been negatived on a division, or elsedefeated by very large majorities, the House passed on to a discussion of the safeguards against industrial compulsion. Mr. Boner Law's assurances that the clauses of the Bill would never be used to further anything approaching industrial compulsion provided, in our opinion, the most ample safeguards. At the end of the debate, however, he undertook to " have the matter carefully reconsidered by the Government with a view to inserting such words on the report stage "—i.e., the words of an amendment proposed by Sir John Simon. This proposal was that any certificate of exemption "should be conditions.? upon the person to whom it was granted continuing in or entering into employment under any specified employer or in any specified place or establishment." In view of the anxiety expressed, and possibly felt, in certain quarters, Mr. Boner Law was, we think, quite right to take up the position he did. As no one dreams of industrial compulsion, any assurances of the fact are to be welcomed, provided of comae that they do not present loopholes for defeating the essential object of the Bill.
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