MUTINY BILL.—COMMITTEE. (Hansard, 29 March 1871)

§ MR. MOWBRAY

called attention to the delay that had taken place in giving effect to the recommendation of the Royal Commission which sat in 1868, and reported in May, 1869, that the military law was in an uncertain and ambiguous position; and that it was desirable a new Mutiny Act should be introduced by the authority of the Government. It was understood at the time that a Mutiny Bill, in two shapes—one prepared at the Judge Advocate's office, and the other at the War Office—was under the consideration of the Government; and it was stated, on the part of the Goverment, in reply to a Question, that they had such a Bill in preparation. 876 Nothing, however, appeared to have been done to give effect to the recommendation of the Royal Commission. By the Army Regulation Bill it was proposed to bring the Volunteers under the operation of the Mutiny Act; and it was fair, neither to them nor to the House, that after the recommendation of that Commission, the military law should still remain in an unsatisfactory state.

§ MR. DAVISON

wished to explain that there had not been any extraordinary delay in the matter. 1869 was certainly the first year when any such Bill could possibly have been introduced. The state of public business did not, however, admit of the consideration of the measure at that time; nor could it have been passed last Session, with such important measures as the Land Bill before the House. Having personally had the Mutiny Bill before him, he could assure the Committee that he had given his best attention to the subject, and that if the state of public business would admit of the introduction of the Bill this Session, with a reasonable probability of its being carried through, he should be prepared to bring in the Bill on the part of the Government.