MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2950, 9 December 1916, Page 10

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

RESERVISTS' APPEAL " FIRST DIVISION MEN SHOULD BE READY" ' • YESTERDAY'S SITTING The Military Appeal Board for the Wellington district continued its sittings in tho city yesterday. Tho members of tho board were: Messrs. 1). G. A. Cooper, S.M. (chairman), D. M'Laren, and W. Perry. Captain C. R. Orr Walker represented the Recruiting Branch. Public Trustee Appeals. William Morlcy Eggleston, officer in charge of the Native Branch, Public Trust Office, Wellington, had been picked up in tho ballot. The Public Trustee appealed on his behalf, on account of the reservist's occupation. Mr. J. W. Macdonald, who represented the Public Trustee, stated that Eggleston held an important position. Eggleston was not a shirker. Two of his brothers had been hilled at tho front, and a third brother had volunteered. The position he held demanded special qualifications, ' including knowledgo of Maori laws and of various statutes and regulations. The town of Greymouth and much of tho farming lands of Taranaki- were included, in the reserves -under his supervision. Eggleston had an "understudy" in the Department, an attempt! to train one having been interrupted by the war. Tho Public Trust Office had had a record business year in 1915, and the work was growing. The new business included the control of the estates of 1800 soldiers and 100 interned Germans. Over 70 members of the staff had v enlisted. Six had: gono into camp in- November. Four officers had been picked up in the ballot, and only one appeal was being made. Tho conditions with regard to Eggleston were exceptional, and his exemption was of great importance to tho Public Trust Office. Captain Walker said lie was satisfied the application at the present juncture was a reasonable one. Each application from a public Department would have to be dealt with on its merits, and he would examine each case carefully. Heads of Departments might sometimes bo moved by selfish motives, but he recognised that the position would become serious in some Departments. He suggested, that the present caso should bo adjourned sine die. Eggleston had a personal claim for present exemption, owing to the losses already sustained by his family in the war. . The board suspended its decision sine. _dio, and granted Eggleston suspension, subject to his remaining in his present employment. A Factory Manager. Leon Cohen, factory manager and cutter, Wellington, appealed for exemption for a period on tho ground of undue hardship. Ho claimed that his enlistment at present would involve tho closing of the factory, causing severe loss to his partner. Appellant stated that ho was a rpanufacturer of "sol't goods and white work." His brother-in-law was bis partner, and they employed between 20 and 30 hands. They could not securo an assistant cutter. Their firm was the only one manufacturing in Wellington. He and his partner were overloaded with work, and could not get orders out on time. If appellant went into camji his brother-in-law, who was not a .skilled cutter, ■ could not carry on the business, and would be involved in severe loss. Ho asked for a period of exemption, in order to fill his own place. Probably ho would have to train women assistants for the. work.

Captain Walker said ho would liko to say, for the guidance of Reservists in general, that members of tho First Division must expect to be called up at any time, and must make their arrangements accordingly. They must look ahead, and not expect to be granted much time after the ballot. The First Division men ought to understand that position clearly, and arrange their affairs in anticipation of the call. The board granted suspension till March 31, 1917, appellant to remain at his employment in tho meantime. Appellant said lie would enlist'in tho meantime if he could make the necessary arrangements. Time Wanted. Algot Harold Pettersson, seedsman and florist, Island Bay, urged undue hardship. Ho had volunteered and had been declared medically unfit • before being picked up in the ballot. Then ho had 'arranged his business accordingly. If now passed he would like time to dispose of his business. '■ Appellant stated he was a single man, aged 32 years. He had a shop at Newtown, and was in business in partnership with liis brother. His brother could not carry on the business and shop, and attempts to get suitable assistance had failed. / To' Captain Walker: He liad enlisted twice, and had been rejected. His brother could earn his present income without appellant's assistance. Appellant had no dependants. The appeal was disallowed, the board recommending that appellant should bo given time to adjust his business affairs in the event of his being passed for service. A Cook's Appeal. "William Hansen Gooday, cook, Wellington, appealed on the ground thai he had to support a crippled father, 74 years of age. Appellant stated that he earned £2 ss. a week. He had two sisters in Wellington. One brother was at the front, and another brother had been discharged from camp through illness, i Witness had enlisted and bad neon reI jected. He gave his father £1 a week. Then his father received tho old age 1 pension, and also 2s. Gil. a -.Tcelc from tho brother at the front. To Captain Walker: His father 'lived in lodgings. Appellant would still give his father £1 a week from his military pay, and agreed that ho himself would then be in a better financial position than ho was now. Captain Walker ohjecled to exemption being granted. There would lie no undue hardship in such a case. If appellant were accepted, he would be in an improved financial position. Tho appeal was disallowed. Domestic Reasons. Ralph Cowing Aslin, grocer's assistant, Wellington, appealed for three months' exemption for domestic reasons. Ho had married in Octobcr. 1915. Captain Walker said ho had no objection to appellant being allowed two months' extra time. Appellant withdrew, his appeal on tho understanding, that ho would receivo two months' leavo before joining tho Forces. Alfred Ernest Clark, telegraph linesman. Wellington, asked for exemption for domestic reasons. Appellant stated he had married on Mav 3. 1916. Tho hoard disallowed the appeal,-Cap-I tain Walker undertaking-that appellant. should have leave until March 31. 1917. | Invalid Parents. Ernest Edward Napier, Harbour [ Board employee, Wellington, asked for

exemption on tho ground that ho had to look after an invalid father and mother. Appellant Btated ho earned £3 a week, loss 'Is. 3d. for superannuation, ilo was a single man, residing with his parents. 110 unvo his parents 3Us. a week, sometimes more, and also paid 10s. <kl. nor mouth insurance, and other incidentals His father and mother each received tho old ago pension. Ho did not lileo the idea of leaving his parents with nobody to look after them. " To Captain Walker: Ho had a married sister in Wellington. A brother, aged 18 years, was at home and had employment. This brother was not in very good health. His parents bad £51 a year from their pension. Probably his average contribution to the home was 325. (id. per week. He did not think his parents could manage on the 2os. a week he could allow them hvin his military pay. Witness: Wiia would lojk aftw t'nem? They are both cripples. Mother has lost a leg and father, is crippled by rheumatism. To 3lr. M'Laren: The Harbour Board has given part pay and paidl superannuation charges in the ease of volunteers among its employees. Appellant had considered his placo was at home. William Henry papier, father of appellant, stated ho' Mas aged 77 years and liis wife was aged 64 years. He was almost helpless owing to rheumatism, and could not dress himself. He was an old Volunteer, and eid not want to hold back his son, but did not see how ho could do without him. The younger son could not take tho older boy's place. The appeal was allowed. Suspension Allowed. Frank Bone, bread carter, Kilbirnie, appealed on the ground of undue hardship. He asked for exemption until after May, 1917, for domestic reasons. He had married within the last twelvo months. He earned £2 ISs. a week, and had no relatives who would look after his wife. Captain Walker suggested that the case should be adjourned sino die, tho appellant to inform the board of any change in his circumstances prior to June 1 next. The board reserved decision until June 1, 1917, tho appellant to be granted suspension in the meantime provided he remained in his present occupation. A Shipping Clerk. Neville Charles Witcombe, shipping clerk, Wellington, had been picked up in the ballot. His employers, Messrs. Dalgety and Co., appealed on tho ground that their staff was seriously depleted by enlistments, and the retention of Witcombe was essential for the proper handling of steamers carrying foodstuffs. .Witcombe himself appealed on grounds of occupation and undue hardship. Mr. Blair, for the firm, said that appellant had onlisted some time provionsly, but at tho urgent request of his employers, he had consented to an application for exemption being made. The firm had applied to tho Minister of Munitions, and appellant was granted exemption. Since then Witcombe had been picked up in the ballot. The present appeal was based on tho fact that if Witcombe, who was quite willing to serve, was enlisted, the firm must fill his place with an officer who had been lent to tho Government and who was required for public service. Mossrs. Dalgety and Company had brought Witcombe from Adelaide owing, to their inability to secure a, suitable man here. Fifty-four members of tho Arm's staff had enlisted in the Wellington district, twenty-two from the Wellington office, and tho places of all these men wero open to them when thc.y returned. The firm was paying £7000 by way of half salaries to employees who had joined tho forces. Every man joined tho forces had been given half salary, and an undertaking that his place would bo kept open for him. Witcombe was tho only eligible man loft in the Wellington office, and tho firm asked for his exemption only becauso his services were essential.

William Sollars Bennett, Wellington manager for Messrs. Dalgety and Co., 'said that Witcombe held a, very important position in the shipping department, and his placo could not bo filled front outside. The firm had lent an officer to tho Imperial Supplies Board, and that man was still needed.

Captain Walker: He could say with a full sense of responsibility that tho firm could .not fill Witcombo's place from outside. Inquiries had been made, but the firm could not offer a new man a permanency, since the men at the front would come back, and a good man would not accept a temporary position. Inquiries among the branches had not discovered a man who could be spared to take Mr. Witcombe's place.

A. A. Kothwell, acting-departmental manager of tho firm's shipping depaitment, said his branch in the Wellington office had! lost frvo men by enlistment. He had made strenuous efforts to find a man to take Witcombe's place.

To Captain Walker: If Witcombe were onlisted, witness would revert to Witcombe's position of chief clerk, which he had hold previously, and the officer at present with tho Imperial Supplies Board would become departmental manager. It would take twelve months to train a now shipping clerk. To Mr. M'Laren: If Witcombe left the service suddenly, through an accident, witness would have to assume his more important duties, in addition to his own, and distribute the remainder. Mr. Bennett, recalled, said that in granting exemption for Witcombe tho Minister of Munitions had. told tlio firm to look out for a substitute for Witcombe. An effort had been made to find a suitable man, but without' success. Shipping clerks in other branches had enlisted.

After consideration tho board reserved its decision until Juno 30., 1917 and granted Witcombo suspension until that date, tho man to remain at his employment in the meantime. Tito decision was' saibject to the firm's officer' remaining with tho Military Supplies Board.

. Tlio board adjourned until 10 a.m to-day.