§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time"
§ Mr. CAVEI want to raise a point on Clause 2. The first Sub-section of the Clause provides for constables who have been non-commissioned officers and who re-enlist, and the second Sub-section provides for constables who have not held any rank in the Army and enlist. That is confined to those who have special qualifications. I do not quite understand why it is so confined. I quite appreciate that it is not possible for every constable to leave the police force, and for that reason the whole Clause is dependent upon the consent of the chief officer. If that consent is given I do not quite see why there should not be power given, at all events, to provide pensions for any constable who enlists in the Army or Navy, even though he is not bound to have any special qualification.
Mr. DENNISSIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the word "constable" 678 in Sub-section (2) means any constable, or constable as mentioned in the first Subsection, which states clearly that it only applies to those who have been petty officers or non-commissioned officers? That is in the principal portion of the Clause, and it will probably be held by the Courts to govern the rest of the Section, and each judge will probably construe constables there as meaning those who have been petty officers or non-commissioned officers. I think it will be advisable not to let that danger remain in the Bill if by any simple Amendment you can make it quite clear.
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Ellis Griffith)It is quite true that Sub-section (2) of Clause 2 is limited to those who have not yet taken any part in either the military or the naval force. The real principle behind the Clause is that we do not think the ordinary police force is a proper recruiting ground; therefore Sub-section (2) is limited to those who in the opinion of the police authority have got special aptitude. If they have special aptitude or special qualifications, even if they have never served in the Army or Navy, they come under the Bill.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Resolved, "That this House doth immediately resolve itself into the Committee on the Bill."—[Mr. Ellis Griffith.]
§ Bill accordingly considered in Committee.
§ [Mr. MACLEAN in the Chair.]