APPEAL FOR A VOLUNTEER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3001, 12 February 1917, Page 6

APPEAL FOR A VOLUNTEER

HEAD ANDHIS HOUSE MASTER, ! By Telegraph—Pie.4. Association. . Christchurch, February 10. Before the Military Service Board,, < Cioorge . Ernest Blanch,, of Christ's College, appealed on behalf of ' H. Hudson, one •of the masters who had volunteered for service and had been accepted. In.-his appeal Mr. , Blanch stated that Mr. Hudson was in sole charge, under him, of the dis- -- cipline of the schoolhouse, which con- • lamed sixty-six borders. Hβ had not ' "been drawn in the ballot, but had vol- ', nntarily enlisted a few. months back. - The matter was urgent beqiuse he had to report'at Trentham on March .8. - There was no one left at college to replace Mr. Hudson, as live other members o.f the staff of Christ's College 11 ho were fitted 'ftir'the duty of house1, master had already given their services • to their country, and had either been , killed in action or were still on active • service. Mr. Hudson was 'forty-one jears of age. In reply to-the chairman, Mr. Blanch said that Mr. Hudson had only been put in charge of the schoolhouse lately, taking the plaoe of the Rev. G. S. "i Br.vaa Brown, who had gone to the front. . There were 317 boys at the college. Appellant said he would like Mr. Hudson to secure six months' extension, and, failing that, three months. , Mr. Hudson, questioned by the chnirt iran, said he had been passed as fit for active service.. . ' The.chairman,-to Mr. Blaiieh: I suppose Mr.. Hudson discussed this mat- ■ ter with you before he enlisted? ' I Mr. Blanch:, No. He told me aftsr Jie had volunteered. ■ The chairman'said that the regiila- ; tions affecting the case only 'came into inice on January 16. In the course of further remarks, Mr. Blanch stated that if Mr. Hudson were en en till the end of May it would ease the position and give him a chance to find a substitute. It was not a question of sentiment at all. The chairman said that the nosition was a difficult one. The board recognised what the country was up against nt present, and Mr.-Hudson was a lit man who hnd volunteered. Apart from the new regulations, the appellant, would have had no ground of appeal at all. If the board established n pje- ' ( <?«lent, they would have to follow it. The most,the board could do wuuld be ( to give Mr. Hudson an extension for half a school term, viz., 'is weeks.