MILITARY SERVICE BOARDS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2887, 27 September 1916, Page 6

MILITARY SERVICE BOARDS

APPOINTMENTS MADE THE PRINCIPLES FOLLOWED STATEMENT BY HON. J. ALLEN Tho Minister of Defence announced tho appointment of the Military Service Boards yesterday as follows:— Auckland. Mr. Frederick James Burgess, S.M. Mr. George Elliot, Rcraucra, merchant. Mr. John M'Caw, Matamata, farmer. Wellington. Mr. Daniel George Arthur Cooper, , S.M. ■ Mr. David M'Laron, Wellington. Mr. William Perry, Masterton, sheepfarmer. Canterbury. Mr. James Sim Evans, Nelson, S.M. Mr. James Dothie Millton, Fendalton, Officer in Charge of tho Citizens' Defenco Corps, at Christchurch. Sir. Edgar Channon Studholme, Waimato, sheepfarmer. Otago. Sir. Howell Young Widdowson, S.M. Mr. Edward Kellott, Dunedin, Secretary of tho Carpenters' Union. Mr. Alfred Dillon Bell, Waihomo, sheepfarmer. Mr. Allen made a statement to a Dominion" reporter regarding the appointments. "In tho selection of men to constitute tho Military Service Boards," said Mr. Allen, "the Recruiting .Board laid down for itself certain principles. One was that, if possible, Magistrates should bo secured as chairmen. Another was that all tho membors selected, whether Magistrates or not, were to bo beyond military ago, and wero to have no sons who might bo expected to have enlisted andwlio had not done so. The Board also laid down tho principlo that the men selected should be well known in their districts, and that they should bo broad-minded men, without any prejudices, men who wero likely to command tho confidence of the public in their judgments., Adherence to • theso principles made it necessary for the Recruiting Board to pass over certain gentlemen who would liavo been estimable members of tho boards, but who did not comply with the conditions laid down. We avoided as far as possible the selection of gentlemen who occupied public positions, to which they had been appointed by the voto of the electors—as, for instance, members of Parliament, or the mayors of cities or boroughs. "All this part of tho Act that theso boards have to deal with has been placcd under tho administration of the Hon. Mr. Myers, who hits been dealing with the subjret of exemptions wliilo wo have been obtaining recruits under tho voluntary system.

"The Magistrates, who will be the chairmen ot the Boards, havo been called together, and tlioy will consider some of the more important issues likely to arise in the work they will havo to do. Probably ono of tlio most important things they, liavo to consider is tlio securing of uniformity in decisions. Tho Rccruitm" Board is very anxious that thero .shall bo no possible reason for complaint that in ono district the Appeal Board mado it very difficult for a man to scouro exemption, whilo in another district tho Board mado it comparatively easy. Tho members of tho Recruiting Board realise that if the Act is to bo well administered, and if public confidence is to be secured, exemption must bo obtained in all parts of New Zealand on somewhat similar grounds. "The Magistrates liave been selected by tho Minister of Justice, and in making tho other selections tho, Recruiting Board lias endeavoured to represent as far as possiblo tho feeling of tho peoplo in tho district by choosing ono member resident in a city or acquainted with city life, and tlio other member resident in tlio country. No man lias been selected because lie represents any particular section of the community, and all tho names submitted havo had duo consideration, subject to tlio rules wo laid down. As it turns out, there are two of the members appointed who havo been interested specially in labour matters. One is Mr. D. M'Laren, of Wellington, and tho other is Mr. Kellett, secretary of tho Carpenters' and Joiners' Union, Dunedin. "The members of the Board will recoivo each ono guinea per day while they are in session, one pound per day travelling allowance, and actual locomotion expenses."