APPEALS UNDER THE BALLOT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3030, 17 March 1917, Page 2

APPEALS UNDER THE BALLOT

EXEMPTIONS FOR POLICEMEN

SHORTAGE OP PLUMBERS

Jllio Third Military Service Board resumed its sittings, yesterday. Sir. W. H- S. Moorhouso ,-presided, and with him were Messrs. M. J. Mack and A. 0. Considine. The Commissioner of Police (Mr. John O'Donovan) appealed on the ground of public interest for exemption froin military service for the following eighteen police constables:— John Richard Ryan, James Michael .Homing, John 'Lsbjster, Michael John Joseph Roache, Harry Staniland, and Thomas Kilgour, of Wellington; Lindsay Templcton and Vincent Stewart Moulding, of Christchurch; Charleß Ross, of Sydenham; Thomas Clark Archibald and Frank Langshaw,' -of Dunedin; John Samuel Doak and Donald Austin, of Invercargill; James Dorgan, of Timaru; Johann Friedrick Rudolf Fischer, of Gisborne; William Alexander Mackrell, of Blackwater; ißonald Frederic Thomas, '.of Bradley Plat, Lyttolton; and James Dow, of : Reef ton.

The appeals' were adjourned''smodie, •with_ exemption from military service provided appellants remain in their present occupations. The appeal of William E. Parker, a member-of the Gity Fire Brigade, for whom Superintendent Tait appeared, was adjourned sine die, with exemption from military service provided appellant remains in his present occupation. Are Plumbers Essential? Denis James Casey, icgistered plumber, for whom .Mr. J. Scott appeared, appealed on the ..grounds of undue hardship, and also 'because he was engaged in an essential industry. Counsel stated that appellant was working for his brother, .who was in business in Willis Street. Of three brothers, one had enlisted. Appellant lived with his widowad mother, who was 60 years of age, and who appeared to.be <i chronic invalid. His wages -were about £3 10s. per week, and he allowed his mother £2 per week, which included payment for his board. An unmarried .sister lived at homo and kept house. A married brother allowed his mother 10s. .a week, and the brother with tho Expeditionary Forces allowed his mother 21s. His mother had applied for the old age pension, and was waiting to receive her birth certificate from Ireland.

_ With respect ,to appollanfc's occupation ,as a .registered plumber, .counsel stated that plumbers, -were exceedingly scarce, and the firm for whom appellant worked had' a_ considerable amount of sanitary plumbing work and drainage to undertako, which .was at all times urgent work. Owing to enlistment of plumbers, work at tho camps, and on transports and on new dwellinghouses, tho .pressure on the industry was at present extraordinarily severe. Evidence was given -by Patrick Casey, brother and employer of tho appellant, and also by Mr. T, Ballinger. Tho latter stated 4that,ho was a.momber of the Master Plumbers' Association, and maintained that the Trado had been seriously affected by. tho call for men to join the colours. Tlio work of plumbers, especially .around Wellington, had greatly increased, and tho men' could jiot bo.spared. .The shortago of men had .bccorao:.so acute that at a recent meeting of master plumbers it was decided to appeal for every plumber called up. Captain Baldwin: Have tho ..master plumbers dono anything in tho way of concerted .action to .got tho sanitary work dono?

Mr. Ballinger: Nothing has been done, and it .would be impossible to do anything. Tho jobbing work .could ;not bo organised. Tho 'board reserved its decision. Financial Assistance. Thomas William Pago, bookkeeper, AVilton Road, Northland, for whom Mr. W. F. Ward appeared, and Ernest William Annand, represented by Mr. J. •Barton, applied for financial assistance. After hearing tho ovidenco in both cases tho board.intimated that recommendations, if any, would be submitted to tho Minister of Defence. Not Reservists. Reuben Mottram, qlecrician's labourer, appealed on tho ground that he was not a reservist. Appellant produced his discharge from -the 'British .Navy, -.which showed that.he had served 15 years, during which period he ,was a member of tho crows "of tho Impregnable, Boscawen, Severn, Furious, Argonaut, Wildfire, Hoyal Arthur, Hyacinth, and .Sphinx. Appellant clainied to have beeii on active service in China, Somaliland, and in the Persian Gulf. He had been in the Fleet Reserve for the past .five years, and ..was still a member, as he had not yet received his discharge. He came to New Zealand for tlio benefit of his heajth, as he suffered greatly, from sciatica, .and .was ,at present suffering..from .the ■complaint. . . "'.. Ho was directed by-the hoard to submit his certificate to the military authorities.

Patrick Murphy,. dairy-fami hand, Miramar,' for whom Mr. John Scott appeared, claimed that he was not a reservist, .as he. was over the age limit. Ho produced a .statement signed by bis mother to sav that he was born October 31, 1869.' Further, .-lie.: stated that he was crippled witlvrheumatism. The case was .adjourned .to enable a certified copy of the birth certificate being nrocured. and the apnellnnt .was advised to see the Medical Board forthwith.

The appeal of Walley Mahomed, .a | coloured man from India, was .adjourned sine die, in .accordance with instructions received by the hoard for dealing with ;such cases. Poi llata ..Tones, a lialfrcaste Maori, and a farmer, ,of Ongariie, appealed on the ground that he was not a reservist, and tho appeal was upheld. Other Cases. Mr. T. Young.appeared for William Frank Hedger, umbrella company manager, who applied for.an extension of two months to enable his employers to make other arrangements. Mr. Young explained that the.appellant represented a British .firm, .and endeavoured to enlist two years .ago. but was prevented by his employers. When he was drawn in the ballot, a cable messago was sent to his employers, .and it was thought. that .it. would bo fully two months before "the necessary arrangements could bo made, to relievo appellant, who held a power of attorney from his principals. Leave for two months was granted.

Isaac Mnwhiney. compositor, 30 Holmwood Road. Brooklyn, appealed on the cronnd of ,hwlhp hardship. Tim appellant stated that he had throe brothers, all of whom were married. There was also a married sister, who resided in Kngland. Apwlhint lived with his mother, who was Rl. years old, and paid her P-1 pi»r week, which Included his board. His mother was ii receipt nf the old,age .pension. He admitted thn.t from.a pecuniary point of view his mother would Im. a<! .well-off if ho went into camp, .and allowed her a nart nf his pay. Tim appeal was dismissed. The bo:ird adjourned until 10 o'clock this morning.