§ 23. Mr. LYNCHasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the statutory authority under which Australian citizens have been made subject to the Miliary Service Act in this country; whether communications on the subject have passed between His Majesty's Government and the Commonwealth Government; and whether, in view of the importance of the question as tending to define for the first time the political status of the Commonwealth and the limitations of its autonomy, he will make a statement on the subject?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Bonar Law)Men ordinarily resident in the Dominions or resident in Great Britain for the purpose only of their education or for some special purpose are excepted from the provisions of the Military Service Acts. I have not received any communication from the Commonwealth Government on the subject.
§ Mr. LYNCHHas the right hon. Gentleman communicated with the Commonwealth Government, as this involves a question as to the rights of Australian citizens?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI should hardly be likely to communicate until I got some complaint, of which up to now I have had none.