ARMY RECRUIT’S FAMILY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 117, 2 March 1950, Page 6

ARMY RECRUIT’S FAMILY

APPEAL BY YOUNG RESERVIST 18-YEAR-OLD EARNS £ls A WEEK (P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 1. An appeal for exemption from military service on the ground of undue hardship in that no financial allowance is made for the wife of an 18-year-old man was made to-day to the Military Service Postponement Committee by Cyril Edward Le Gros, a woolpresser. Le Gros stated in evidence that he received 3s 9d an hour as a woolclasser. With overtime he earned between £ls and £l6 a week. He considered that he would he unable to keep his wife and child on 19s 6d a day Army pay. The only other money his wife would get would be 10s a week family benefit. He was expecting an addition to his family shortly, said Le Gros. ■ The committee upheld the appeal. FATHER OPPOSES SON’S APPEAL MILITARY TRAINING FOR YOUTH (P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 1. Until he received notice on Saturday about the hearing of the appeal he was not aware that his son intended to enter the ministry, said F. Feeney, in evidence before the Military Service Postponement Committee to-day. Witness was opposing the application for exemption from military training made on behalf of his son, Patrick Michael Feeney, aged 18, by the Commonwealth Covenant Church, Lower Hutt.

The chairman and overseer of the church (Mr S. T. Watkins) said that Feeney had signed up for the ministry some time ago, and had expressed a desire to carry out missionary work in the Pacific when he completed his studies at the training school. Watkins said that the syllabus at the training school was very intensive and a boy would not be able to carry it out unless he had genuinely received a spiritual call. Boys residing at the hostel rose at 5 a.m. to be ready for the first meeting at 6 a.m. Many of the students, including Feeney, worked during the day and met again at 6 p.m. They were free after 9 p.m., said Watkins. This syllabus was carried out every day of the year without exception. Patrick Michael Feeney said that he intended definitely to enter the ministry, but had not consulted his parents before making up his mind. In case of war he would not .take up arms and would not enter military service, even to' the extent of joining the ambulance brigade. The committee dismissed the appeal ,