PUBLIC INTEREST

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 123, 30 June 1941, Page 5

PUBLIC INTEREST

SCOPE OUTLINED ARMY SERVICE APPEALS An indication of the grounds necessary before a reservist called in an overseas ballot could lodge a sue* cessful appeal on the grounds of public interest was given by the No, 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board in a written decision on the question o' the rehearing of a case previouslv dismissed. "It is not possible to give a com-i prehemsive definition of public interest," s>aid the Board. "At the outset it must be pointed out that the fact that a man is engaged in n certain occupation does not in itself entitle him to relief from the obli> gation of service. Each case must be considered on its merits, and not only must it be shown that the man in question is essential, but also that the appeal is satisfactory in its personal aspects, and that it is nol possible to replace the man or that other arrangements cannot be made to release him, "In considering the personal pect of an application on the ground of public interest a factor that must be carefully considered is 1 - the family position," the decision continued. "In cases where there isJ a number of sons, some; of whom are eligible for service, it is contrary to public interest that all or even most of those eligible for service should be retained in sheltered occupations. To •'o so would rouse public resentment and militate against national unity, particularly in the of 'ons of wealthy or influential pari cnls and in those cases in which sons had been taken into such shclt cred occupations since the outbreau of war."