§ Order for Second Reading, read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."
§ Mr. JONATHAN SAMUELMay I ask what is the object of this Bill?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Herbert Lewis)Under various provisions in the general law members of local authorities vacate their offices, and, in some cases, are liable to a fine if they are absent for more than a certain period from the areas which they represent. An Act was passed in the year 1900, at the time of the Boer War, which provided that an officer 921 or soldier of the Auxiliary or Reserve Forces on active service, or on service beyond the seas, should not by reason only of his absence on such service be disqualified or vacate his office in a county, borough, district, or parish council or a board of guardians, or incur any fine or other liability. But the terms of that Act relate only to officers and soldiers of the Auxiliary and Reserve Forces, and they do not cover the case of members of the New Army. I am sure the House will agree with me it is reasonable that the exemption from disqualification which members of the Auxiliary and Reserve Forces possess should be extended as proposed by this Bill, which is limited to the period of the present War.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read a second time, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House for To-morrow.—[Mr. Gulland.]