§ In Section seventy-six of the Army Act (which relates to the limit of original enlistment) after the word "persons," where that word first occurs, there shall be in- 1154 serted the words "of not less than eighteen years of age," and after the word "may," where that word first occurs, there shall he inserted the words "upon production of his birth certificate."—[Mr. Beckett.]
§ Brought up, and read the First time.
1155Mr. BECKETTI beg to move, "That the Clause be read a Second time."
I hope this Clause will have rather more consideration than the other Amendments which have come from this side, because we ask for no concession whatever on the part of the Government or their supporters. All that we ask is that they shall take, in common decency, the ordinary measures which any employer or employe making a contract must observe, to see that the bona fides of the agreement are correct on both sides. Last year the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Financial Secretary to the War Office (Captain King), in speaking to a similar Amendment, made the astonishing statement that he did not want to have it proved that these boys were 18 years of age, because there were boys coming from families with military records who, -with the consent of their parents, deli berately lied and deceived the recruiting authorities as to their age.
§ It being a quarter past Eight of the clock, further Proceeding was postponed without Question put, pursuant to Standing Order No. 4.