I move amendment No. 103 :—
In sub-section (3) to delete paragraph (a).
Section 103 provided for the prohibition of political and secret societies. It says :—
" A member of the Permanent Defence Force shall not join, or be a member of, or subscribe to, any political organisation or society or any secret society whatsoever."
With that there will be general agreement. It carries the law as it stands. Sub-section (2) says :—
" A member of the Reserve Defence Force shall not join, or be a member of, or subscribe to any secret society whatsoever."
I will deal with that when I come to the section because I have not an amendment down to it. Sub-section (3) says :—
" The Minister may by regulations :
" (a) prohibit officers of the Reserve Defence Force who are, during a period during which a proclamation authorising the calling out of reservists on permanent service is in force, for the time being continuously engaged in military service or duties for which as officers of the Reserve Defence Force they are liable, from participating in specified political activities, and
"(b) prohibit reservists who stand called out on permanent service from participating in those specified political activities."
Now I want this section clarified. Most men who join the Reserve, or are in the Reserve, are members of political parties. I would say that a number of them are members of political parties. The Minister, when they are called out under this, may make regulations to prohibit them engaging in certain political activities. That may be desirable or it may not. I am putting down opposition to the section for the purpose of getting the Minister to clarify it and to learn what his intention was in regard to it.