APPEALS FROM THE BALLOT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3059, 21 April 1917, Page 7

APPEALS FROM THE BALLOT

CASES IN WELLINGTON SOLDIERS ASK FOR LEAVE The Second Wellington Military Service Board continued its sittings in Wellington yesterday. Tho board consists of Slessrs. J. W. Poynton (chairman;, T. A. Bamber, and V. Curtis. Captain Cqwilshaw was the military representative. Private James AVallace, J Company, 25th Reinforcements, asked for leave in order that ho might attend to private affairs. Ho stated that ho had worked a farm in South Westlaud in partnership with a married brother, prior to enlistment. He had left his brother in charge of the farm, hut the brother had recently been drowned. He had two brothers away with the Forces and another brother, who had been drawn in the ballot. The farm was in rough, isolated country, and could not easily be sold or placed under the care: of a competent man. The chairman said that the family record was a. ' good one,' and the request made • by appellant was reasonable. He was aware of the difficulties of farming in South Wostland.- .Wallace would be granted indefinite leave without pay. Private A. M'lntyre, C Company, 28th Reinforcements, asked for leave. Ho stated that before being drawn in tho ballot he had been managing a farni for his mother, who now had no help. He was the only son at home. One brother was a police constable, one was enlisting with the Australian Forces, and a third was too young to take charge of the place. ■ . Tho board granted one month's leave without pay. Private Evelyn Crawford Wood, who had been drawn in the ballot, stated that he was not a Reservist, since he had served with the Main Body in Egypt, and held a- discharge from tho Expeditionary Force. H'e had onlifited ; again for homo service and was engaged on duties in the' Embarkation Office. The appeal was allowed. Private P. C. Mace, J Company, 26th Reinforcements, n. voluntary recruit, appealed for leave in order to arrange his domestic affairs. He had enlisted in the 9th Reinforcements, but had been rejected and subsequently had married. Thou ho was chosen in the ballot, passed as fit and had been incamp since February. Ho wanted time to place his wifo and child in. a home. Ho,had gone into camp directly ho was' clrau'JL in the ballot aiid had loft his affairs unsettled. A representative of tho New Plymouth Patriotic Society said the' case was one of hardship. Maco had been rejected when he volunteered, and then sent into camp as a conscript after he had incurred domestic and financial responsibilities. Ho had been milking 100 cows. ' .' '

Tlio board recommended indefinite leave without pay, 011 the understanding that Mace wonld return to camp when his affairs lia<l bceii arranged. A Tramway Employee, The Tramways Department ol the Wellington City Council appealed on behalf of It. H. Hunt, armature winder, on the ground of public interest. The work done by Hunt was of ;i highly skilled, nature, and must bo done efficiently if tho tramway service was to be maintained. Tho department .had employed four armature winders, but two had gono to tho front and had not been replaced. _ A. Morton, ; City ■■ Engineer, said it seemed almost impossible to find a man to take Hunt's place. Tho work was essential to the maintenance of the tramway services even on a reduced scale. Armature winders could not be trained quickly. Jiunt had been in the service about seven years. Repairs were more frequent than usual at the present time, owing to tho lieavj ; enlistments of motormen and the consequent employment of comparatively inexperienced drivers. The traffic branch of the Tramways Department had scut 100 men into the forces. The board adjourned the case until October 2. Fire Brigade Appeal, The Superintendent of the Wellington Fire Brigade* appealed on behalf of Joseph Martin, a member of tho permanent staff of the Fire Brigade. He stated that tho permanent staff was at present under strength, and . suitable men, were most difficult to secure. The staff contained nominally 28 men, and it had sent 32 into the forces during the war. He did not intend to appeal on behalf of any auxiliary members of tho brigade, but "the* permanent men were .required for . essential services.

The appeal was adjourned until April 28, to bo considered with some other appeals of a similar nature. Other Cases. The appeals of James Joseph Fraher and John Morris, Catholic priests, were adjourned sine die, the cases to be reviewed at a. later date. An employer's appeal was made on behalf .of lloland B. Edge, bootmaker, Lyall Bay. It was stated on behalf of .Messrs. Staples and Coy. that Edgewas'operating a lasting' , machine, and if he were taken away other men would be thrown out of employment and production would be reduced. No operatives were out of work, and to find a substitute for Edge would mean taking a man from another firm. The board decided to hold over the appeal until April 30 in order, that the firm might make further search for an operative to take Edge's place. George V. Shannon, farmer, was granted v leave. He stated that his only brother had gone to the front. He himself was managing his mother's farm of 800 acres at Plimmerton, and tho local representative of the Efficiency Board had told him to appeal on the ground that he was performiug necessary work. He could not find a competent manager to take his place. He had enlisted voluntarily in 1915, when assistance was available, ■and had then been rejected. The board adjourned the appeal sine die, subject to reconsideration before the First Division was exhausted. The Lands Department appealed on behalf of W. A. Wilson, clerk, Auckland, and J. J. M'Gratli, clerk, Wellington. The evidence showed that Wilson wa.s doing legal work requiring expert knowledge, and his case was adjourned sine die. M'Gratli, who was stated to bo performing. important clerical work, was given leave -until Juno 20.

An employer's appeal was made on behalf! of Benjamin O'Connor, manager of the United Friendly Societies' Dispensary in 'Wellington. Mr. AV. I' , . Ward stated that throe assistants were employed in the shop, but O'Connor was tho only qualified chemist. The societies wore prepared to close the shop if the Government would take over their liabilities. The dispensary mado up some 50,000 prescriptions annually. The board granted an adjournment sino die on the ground of public interest. John M'Lean Cochrane, manager of tlie goicl refinery at Pacroa, appealed on the ground of public interest. Ho did not appear, but forwarded documents containing evidence tli.it his work was essential and that he could nob be roplaced. The appeal was adjourned sino die,

to ho reviewed when the First Division was exhausted. On tho application , of Mr. "W. T. Young, secretary of the Seamen's Federation, conditional exemption was granted to fifteen seamen employed permanently in the mercantile marine Ono appeal was held over for further inquiry. Mr. Young was directed to report to the military authorities monthly regarding the whereabouts of tho men. Tho appeal of Charles F. K. West, msirino engineer, was adjourned sine dio on the ground of public interest. Appellant was employed on shore work connected with the snipping services. An appeal made by the Customs Department on behalf of James Henry Forrester, examining officer, Wellington, was adjourned until May I', in order that it might be considered with other Customs appeals that have-, accumulated. An adjournment sine die was granted in tJjf! ease of Wellosley H. Cox. Y.7.L.G.A. secretary. Evidence showed tiiat Cox was at present in England, performing work in connection with tho military forces. ' v Reginald Long, farm manager, Tahora, Taranaki, appealed on the ground that he was performing essential work and could not find a man to take his place. Tho board adjourned tho case sino die, for review before .the First Division ivas exhausted. John A. Floyd, slaughterman, was granted exemption on the usual terms, on the application of his employers, the Wellington Meat Kxport Company. A. Burns, butcher, Karori, produced evidence that ho was'under age. His appeal was allowed. An employer's appeal was made on behalf of F. C. G. Griffin, foreman chairmaker, Wellington. Griffiil had served in Samoa. Tho parties did not appear, and the board dismissed the case. ■ , William Allen, cabinet-maker. Lower Hutt, was granted leave until July 12. Ho had been declared temporarily unfit I. fa.v a medical board. , James L. Stormont, paper ruler, Wellington, appealed on the ground of undue hardship. He stated" that lie was maintaining his mother, whose health was not good. He had a married brother without children, and two sisters. TJio chairman said the board would grant leavo until May 30. Tho case was not one of particular hardship. Appellant could allow his mother 21s. a. week and the married brother could assist.