MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2997, 7 February 1917, Page 6

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

' LATEST APPEALS CONSIDERATION TO "A GOOD SON" A MOTHER ON HOTEL PATRONS. About a score of appeals were heard by the thiri "Wellington Military Service Board yesterday. The board consists of Messrs. W. 11. S. Moorhouse (chairman), A. O'L. Considine, and 11. J. Alack. Captain Baldwin is the military representative. Frederick John Arnold, drover, 10 Hawkestone, Street, Wellington, mado lihdlio hardship his ground of appeal, and said that ho had to support a widowed mother who had four young children.

■After going into the circumstances of the case the board adjourned the case until May, 27. "The board has been very greatly influenced by the fact that you have been a very good son," the'chairman remarked. "'I trust your services will never be needed."

Appellant's mother came forward and suggested that instead of taking young boys (her son was twenty) the military should take some of the older men who were hanging about the public houses. She warmly endorsed the board's opinion that her boy-was a good sou —"the best boy in New Zealand," she said. Wrongly Taken Under Section 35. George Dennis, joiner, Hamilton Road, Jvilbirnie, and . James Dennis, joiner and sergeant of the guard. Fort Dorset, both of whom had been taken under Section 35, appealed on business and family grounds. It transpired that James Dennis, as a member of the Garrison. Artillery, had rendered service at the forts, and the chairman of the board expressed the opinion that on that account these two men should not have been taken under Section 35. The decision of/the board was reserved. ■ James Dennis then asked that if either had to go, he should be sent, as liis brother would be ablo to do better service than he would at the business. The City Fire Brigade. Thomas Burton Clark, of the permanent staff" of Wellington City Fire Brigade, appealed on the ground of public interest. ■ The appeal was supported by Superintendent Tate,- who said that it was essential that Clark should be retained. Already twenty-nine men from tho brigade's permanent staff had gone to the war. Four had been killed, and one had died of wounds. Appellant had been in the brigade seven years, and was now senior station officer. Appellant himself had desired to. go to the war, but his services were needed by the brigade, which required the same class of man as the military did. Exemption would not be sought for auxiliaries. As appellant was the senior''instructor in the brigade, its efficienoy would be impaired if ho were sent to I the front. Of thirty-four men of the brigade, twenty were eligible. The case was adjourned till April 27, when it will be reconsidered. In the meantime steps are expected to 'be taken to fill appellant's position in the brigade. A Tradesmen's Claim. Matthew Boyd Guise, for whom Mr. If. Buddie appeared, appealed on the ground of public interest. He said that there was a shortage of brass finishers, and that appellant and his partner were engaged on a Government contract. Also, they did brass work in connection with the manufacture of certain milking machines, and cheese vats, and it was essential to maintain, the supply of milking machines in New - Zealand. They were interested in doing the brass work for other important machinery. Contracts produced showed that tho firm had a good deal of work ahead. The appeal was adjourned till April 2, and the board. requested that every effort should' he made to find- a substitute for the appeallant.

, Lad of 17 in the Ballot. Alouise Kovalavske produced a birth certificate to show that he was only, seventeen years of age. His appeal was allowed.

The case of Hugh M'Calder Sargent,' draftsman and builder, Wellington, was mentioned. It was said that the appeal had been adjourned for appellant to produce his birth certificate to support a statement as to age. "I ask that this man be subpoenaed," observed the . military representative. Tho board decided to dismiss the appeal. ■

James Brotherstou, carrier's manager, did not appear, and his appeal was dismissed. Gregory Patrick Doyle, chairmaker, Homo Street, Wellington, whose caso had been adjourned for appellant to be medically examined, appeared and said'that when lie had gone to the appointed place there was no doctor there to attend to him. The case was again adjourned for Doyle to be examined. " ,George Bilderbeclc, electrician, 306 Taranaki Street, Wellington, appealed on the ground of'familv hardship, but the-board dismissed the case, considering, that the circumstances did not entail excessive hardship. Alfred William Fletcher, who lad lodged an appeal, did not appear. His wife sent a letter saying that appellant was a commercial and was not at present in Wellington. Tho hearing of the appeal was adjourned till February 15. ' Other Cases. William Dysart,- railway shunter, 2G Murphy Street, Wellington, appealed 011 tho ground of undue hardship. His case was adjourned till April 27," when tho matter will'bo again considered. William John Davies, military camp wood supplier, did not appear and'his apueal was dismissed. A letter from him said lie wished time to finish a contract. Jabez Bahbington, milk vendor, Kilbirnie, was guaranteed exemption from service till-March 3. John Bradley, labourer, Nai Nai, Lower Hutt, did not appear, and his "appeal was dismissed. Ernest William Austin, letter car' rior. 13 Daniel Street, Newtown, desired an extension of time on account of family circumstances. He was given till Marc.li 3. The board will sit again to-day.