[ First World War: proposed British Parliamentary legislation. ] Typescript of 'Skeleton Draft of a Bill prepared in August 1914.', proposing to 'organise and make fully effective the services which every subject of the Realm is bound to render'.

An anonymous document, clearly the work of a member of the British Parliament. Typescript of 12pp., folio. With retrospective title page in neat manuscript, reading: 'Skeleton Draft of a Bill prepared in August 1914. | How many troubles and disasters might have been saved if some such scheme had been carried out.' A few minor emendations in the same hand. On 'British Loan' Britannia wove paper. In good condition, with light signs of age and wear. The preamble reads: 'Whereas the Nation is at War wherein the people are battling for their honour their safety and their very existence AND WHEREAS it behoves the Nation to completely organise and make fully effective the services which every subject of the Realm is bound to render for their common safety. Be it therefore enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same as follows: - | This Act is divided into Parts relating to the following subject-matter; that is to say: - | Part I. Organization of the Services of Men. | Part II. Organization of the Services of Women. | Part III. General Provisions.' Only Part I (pp.2-8) and Part II (pp.9-12) are present. The bill proposes to give the authorities the power to compel for any man over the age of eighteen to do war service on the Home Front, in areas relating to the 'defence of the Realm', munitions, transport, food. The last paragraph (lettered 'n') of Part I states of those who do not comply that: 'Any police officer or recruiter may without warrant take any man who is alleged to have so failed before a Justice who is hereby empowered to forthwith investigate and determine the truth of such allegation and if the Justice is of opinion that such man has so failed while physically capable to perform such duties the Justice shall issue a certificate to that effect duly dated and such certificate shall have the same effect as if the same were an attestation paper under the Army Act for such man as a recruit.' Paragraph 'a' of the second part reads: 'Every woman above the age of eighteen years shall render to her King and Country such services as are suitable for her age and sex. The services required of women shall be determined by the proper authority.' The nature of this 'proper authority' - to be named the 'Women's Council of the Realm' - is described, with the last paragraph ('k') stating that 'If the woman is unable or unwilling to render the services so requisitioned she shall state in writing her reasons and transmit the same by post or otherwise to the proper authority who shall carefully consider them and intimate to such woman their decision in writing'. A woman failing to comply at this point will have her name and address 'published in the Official Gazette as a Public Defaulter and shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £20 which shall be recoverable against her in any Court off Summary Jurisdiction by any officer of the proper authority.'