§ The Members of Local Authorities Relief Act, 1900 (which relieves members of certain of His Majesty's Forces from disqualification for membership of county and other councils by reason of absence), shall, during the present War, extend to all members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces employed on any naval or military service, and that Act shall have effect accordingly.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Herbert Lewis)I beg to move, after the word "service" ["military service"], to insert the words "and to any person whose employment in connection with naval and military operations the Local Government Board consider may properly be treated for the purposes of this Act in the same manner as actual Naval or Military Services."
The object of the Amendment is to exempt from the penalty of disqualification members of local authorities who may, in fact, be on active service, and not merely members of the Military and Naval Forces. I refer to persons like the members of the Red Cross Society, who are non-combatants. Although not actually soldiers, they may be absent on account of duties connected with the War.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
§ Bill reported; as amended, to be considered To-morrow.
§ The remaining Orders were read and postponed.