STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF DEFENCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3565, 27 September 1916, Page 3

STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF DEFENCE.

WELLINGTON, Septmbor 26. •Tho Hon. J. Allen made a. statement to a. reporter regarding tho appointments. "In tho selection of men to constitute. the Military Service [Boards," he said, " the ' Recruiting Board laid down for itself, certain 'principles. One was that if possible 1 magistrates should be secured as chairmen. Another was that all tho mombers selected, whether magistrates or not, were to be beyond military age and wore to havo no sons who might be expected to have enlisted who had not dono so. The board also laid down the principle that the men selected should bo well known in their districts and that they should bo broad-minded men, without any prejudices, men who were likely to command the confidence of tho public in their judgments. Adherence to theso principles mado it necessary for tho Recruiting Board to pass over certain gentlemen who would havo been estimable members of tho boards, but who did not comply with tho. conditions laid down.

" Wo avoided, as far as possible, the selection of gentlemen who occupied public positions to which they had been appointed by vote of tlio electors as, for instance, members of Parliament or mayors of cities or boroughs.

"All the part of the Act that these boards have to deal with has been placed under the administration of tho. Hon. A. M. Myers, who ha's been dealing, with the subject of exemptions while we have been obtaining recruits under the voluntary system. '

"The magistrates, who will be chairman of the boards, have been called together, and they will consider some of the more important issues likely to arise in the work they will have to do. Probably one of the most important things they have to consider is tho securing of uniformity in decisions. The Recruiting Board is very anxious that there shall be no possible reason for complaint that in one district the appeal board mado it very difficult for a man to secure exemption, while in another district the board made it comparatively easy. Members of tho Recruiting Board realise that if the Act is 'to be well administered, and if public confidence is to be secured, exemption must be obtained in all parts o\ New Zealand on somewhat sinrlar grounds. " Tho magistrates have been selected by tho Minister of Justice, and in making the other selections the Recruiting Board has endeavoured to represent, as far as possible, the feeling of the people in the district, by choosing one member resident in tho city or acquainted with city life and the other member resident in the country. No man has been selected because ho represents any particular section of the community, and all the names submitted have had due consideration, subject to the rules we laid down. As it turns out there are two of the members appointed who have boon interested specially in labour -matters. One is Mr D. McLaren, of Wellington, am' the other is Mr Kcllett, secretary of tho Carpenters' and Joiners' Union, Dunedin. Tlio members of tho boards will receive each one guinea per day while they aro in session, one pound per day travelling allowance, and actual locomotion expenses."