MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3067, 1 May 1917, Page 6

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

CLAIMS FOR EXEMPTION

CASES HEARD IN WELLINGTON

The Second Wellington Military Service Board, consisting of Mr. .1. W. Poynton (chairman), T. Bamber, and F. Curtice, resumed its sittings in tho oH Parliament Buildings yesterday, and dealt witli a number-of appeals. The military representative was Captain Cowlishaw. Leave without pay until August 1 was granted Norman H. Mackie, a voluntary recruit, in the employ of the

Valuation Department. ! William Milsom, ship's steward, was proved to be an Australian, and his appeal was allowed by the board. Mr. AY. T. Young, secretary of the Seamen's and Firemen's Union, asked for the exemption of Charles Martin, Henry George Beadle, John Charles Smith, and Robert Gordon Hand. The men were all serving on ships, and the cases were adjourned sine die nn tl'» usual conditions. "With regard to the appeal of Robert Havern, seaman, employed on the Government steamer Hinemoa, Mr. A'oung said it appeared that Havern bad never been to sea before December last. The appeal was dismissed. ' :

The Stamp Department asked for the exemption of Harold Ennor, clerk employed in the Auckland branch. It waa stated that Enhor was performing important work, and could not be replaced. The- staff of the Department had already been seriously depleted by enlistment. The appeal was adjourned sins die, the case to be reviewed before the First Division was exhausted. Ennor was a voluntary recruit. . A similar decision was given in the case of B. A. Ginger, Customs examining officer, Wellington. Ginger was a voluntary recruit, and the Customs Department asked for his exemption.

' In the adjourned casn of Thomas Henry O'Sullivan. tinsmith and sheetiron worker, Lyall Bay, evidence was produced that -- appellant's brother, John William O'Sullivan, had enlisted, and had been accepted for !-ervice. The appeal, which was supported by an employer, was adjourned sine die. Tlie hoard reserved its decisioii in the case of Charles William Haddon, farm labourer, Stoke Valley. Haddon had married in May, 1916, a widow with five sons, all members of the Forces. One son bad been kilted a v 'l three had been wounded. His wife asked for his exemption, on the ground that she had married in order to allow her youngest son to go to the front. Her health was not good, and she needed assistance.

Two members of tlie Wellington Fire Brigade, T. B. Clark, and C. W. S. Mac Donald, bad their cases adjourned sine die on the ground of public .Interest. Tlie Superintendent of the Brigade stated that his staff- had already been depleted, and the retention of a certain number of trained men was essential.

F. C. E. Griffin, chairmaker, Wellington, wa's granted two months' leave for domestic reasons.

R. B. Edge, bootmaker, Lyall Bay, was granted two months' leave on his own and an employer's appeals. It was stated that no skilled worker could be found to replace him on a lasting machine.

Martin Duun Were, cordial maker, had his case adjourned, for three months on the appeal of his employers, the Phoenix Aerated AYater Company. Mr. George Saunders, managing director .of the company, said that .Wero was foreman and his services were essential if the company was to continue supplying aerated waters and cordials to military camps, and troopships. The work demanded skill and .experienco and Were could not easily be replaced.

The board gave further, consideration to the appeal of Edward Cloggie Mack, theatre manager, Wellington (Mr. Cornish). Mack had appealed on domestic grounds. The chairman. said that the appeal would be dismissed, and Mack would be granted leave until May 28.

Albert John Windrum, dairy farmer. Lower Hutt, appealed on the ground of undue hardship. Ho worked on his father's farm of sixty acres. His father was sixty-two years of age, and in poor health. Another brother was on the farm, but was partially crippled. The milk from the farm went to,Hutt and Pctone. A third brother had a market garden near the dairy farm. The chairman: "There are three of you and not one of you is fighting. Your two brothers have been declared unfit, and you are the only one fit for service. Could not your brothers holp your father?" Appellant said his crippled brother had a withered arm, and could do very little work. The other brother had a .market garden which required his attention. His father was sixty-two years of age and could not work hard owing to physical weakness. Tho farm pr6dueed about forty gallons of milk per day. It carried fourteen cows, and produced potatoes and cabbages in addition to winter feed. The board granted leave until June 25.

Thomas Le'slio Blatchford, law clerk, Wellington, appealed on the ground of undue hardship. Mr. Luckie *iaied that appellant was the only son of a widow and was delicate. He would need time to make arrangements for his mother. The board allowed leave until May 28.

An employer's appeal was made on behalf of Hugh King,/ polish-mixer, Wellington. "Mr. Mazengarb stated that King was employed by the Radium Polish Company, and was the only employee in possession of certain secret recipes. He did all the mixing, and could not be replaced quickly. The company asked that King should -be given .three months' leave, 'in order that a new mixer might be employed. Captain Cowlishaw said tho company fiad known that King was a member of the First Division, and should have prepared Jor his enlistment.' Apparently notTiiug had been done in advance. The' company could have trained a home service man. The ohairman said the training of another mixer should not occupy three months. The company would have no difficulty in finding a man who was not required for military service. Leave would be granted until May 28.

Private R. W.'R. Fulhain, H Company, Twenty-fifth Reinforcements, asked for leave without pay, in order that he might wind up his business at Warkworth. Ho had many accounts to collect, and had been told by his solicitor that his personal attendance was necessary during Court proceedings. Tiie board granted leave without pay until Juno 1.

An appeal by Albert Bell Rigg, a clerk in the Labour Department, was adjourned pending the result of a claim for financial ■ assistance. Appellant was a married man, and had some liabilities in connection with a house.