§ Considered in Committee.
§ (In the Committee.)
§ [Mr. JEFFREYS (Hampshire, N.) in the Chair.]
§ Clause 4:—
§ MR. CALDWELL (Lanarkshire, Mid)proposed the insertion of words with a view to the correction of an apparent error. The Clause referred to the Army (Annual) Act of 1881. But that Act had been amended in several instances in recent years, and, in order to make the clause clear, he ventured to suggest the necessity of introducing the words as amended by the Army (Annual) Acts.
§
Amendment proposed—
In Clause 4, page 3, line 10, after the word 'Act' to add the words 'as amended by the Army (Annual) Acts.'"—(Mr. Caldwell.)
§ Question proposed "That those words be there added."
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. ARNOLD-EORSTER,) Belfast, W.said he had no objection to the 475 Amendment, although he did not know it was altogether necessary. The Army (Annual) Act was reprinted in 1901, and that, he was advised, was the Act that was really now being amended.
§ MR. CALDWELLThen put in the words, "As amended by the Army (Annual) Act, 1901."
§ Amendment, as amended, put, and agreed to.
§ On Clause8:—
§ MR. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy Burghs)asked for some information as to the object of the clause. Was it proposed to reduce the compulsory allowance by a soldier to his wife from 1s. to 6d. per day?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERNo. The object is to enable the allowance to be increased, not reduced.
§ MR. DALZIELThat shows the difficulties caused by our not having the Bill before us.
§ Clause agreed to.
§
Amendment proposed—
In Clause 9, page 4, line 6, after the word 'Act,' to add the words 'As amended by the Army (Annual) Act, 1891.' "—(Mr. Caldwell.)
§ Question proposed "That those words be there added."
§ MR. ARNOLD FORSTERsaid he would not oppose the Amendment though he considered it to be mere surplusage. They were now amending the 1901 Act. which no doubt amended the 1891 Act.
§ MR. CALDWELLpointed out that the words dealt with in this clause were not contained in the 1901 Act, but were to be found in the 1891 Act. The Committee must amend the Statute, and not rely merely upon printed copies of an Act of Parliament bringing the Act up to date, and issued solely for the information of the service.
§ THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir ROBERT FINLAY,) Inverness Burghssaid that if the hon. Member would look at the Army Act. 1885, he would find there a provision that the Army Act should always be available as amended by any subsequent Act. The present Bill referred to the Army Act, which, read by the light of the Statute of 1885, meant the Army Act of 1881 as amended by any subsequent Statute. Therefore the Amendment was unnecessary.
§ MR CALDWELLsaid the reference in the Act of 1885 was a different thing altogether.
§ SIR ROBERT FINLAYsaid the Amendment was quite unnecessary, bur in order to save time he would accept it.
§ Bill reported; as amended, to be considered To-morrow.