THE STRANGE WAYS OF MILITARY APPEAL BOARDS.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3033, 21 March 1917, Page 6

THE STRANGE WAYS OF MILITARY APPEAL BOARDS.

Sir;—Re the appeal of John A. v Mee in to-day's Dominion. Here we have a Reservist of the -First Division freely admitting that he has done no shearing for the last five years, or any other work of an "essential" nature. Healso states in his evidence that he ib a competent mutton butcher, hut does not venture to say when he last saw the inside of a freezing works; His story about organising work no doubt is true, and on this slender pretence he gets exemption on condition that he engages in someireal hard graft. Contrast this case with one of our local young men, who appealed after being balloted, aid had his, appeal dismissed, only getting a few weeks to straighten up his affairs. This essential worker whom we will call "Tom," has been dairy-fann-ing for the last four or five years on about 100 acres, and had just managed .to, get together a fairly good herd and was doing pretty well, managing easily to pay interest and live, but by the sweat of his brow and the 4 a.m. habit. Tom could certainly be classed as a primary producer and essential worker in every sense of the word.. Yet his reply from the Military Board was to get ready for camp as best he can in a few weeks' time. Thanking you in anticipation,—l am, etc., ■""' PERTURBED.