BALLOTED FOR WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 177, 16 April 1918, Page 3

BALLOTED FOR WAR

MEN AND THEIR APPEALS

INTERESTING CASES HEARD YESTERDAY

There was a sitting of Hie Third Wellington Military Service Board yesterday. Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, 5.11., presided, and the other members present were Messrs. D. M'Laren and W. Perry. Lieutenant Grut appeared for tho military authorities.

The board reserved decision in the following cases:—Cecil D. Clark, Arthur Simpson, Frederick William Johnson, ships' stewards; Owen John Flaimery, ship's butcher. ( Decision was reserved indefinitely in each of the following cases of members of the Seamen's Union:—William Collins, Henry Denhim, George Fallows, Cecil G. Barlow, George G. Gee, Donald M'Rac, H. S. Whitemde, and J. A. White. One of Only Two Seed Analysts. The Department of Agriculture appealed for Enoch Bruce Levy, seed analyst, Wcraroa. E. S. Pope, Secretary of Agriculture, . stated that there were only two seed analysts in New Zealand—Mr. Cockayne and the appellant. If tho appellant were taken away and -Mr. Cockayne had lo do all .the seed testing, Mr. Cockayne would have to give up muck of his other work" In Great Britain Government seed testing was compulsory. A man was in training for the work Levy was doing, but was not yet capable of replacing him. The National Efficiency Board had classed seed-testing as most essential. An immediate decision iy.as not arrived at. A Man From ihe Front. An appeal for total exemption was made by 2nd Lf. John ji. Dines, 38th Reinforcements. Appellant said that he had served for two years in the Army, and now wished to stay with his father, who was a farmer, and was in poor health. A brother had been killed ci the war, ami appellant was the only son left. The board did not consider that sufficient grounds for the granting of tha exemption had been shown, ana tlsa application was refused.. "A Bad Example," ! The Director of Organisation, Captnin j A. J. Cross, appealed for the exemption ] of Major C. V.\ Coles, the officer in com- j mand of defences at North Hepii, Auck- ! land.. He was engaged in technical irork. j and could not be replaced by a returned j soldier. /' Decision was reserved indefinitely. Captain Cross appw.led- on behalf of j Sergeant-Major B. J. Morton'also. Ser-i geant Morton is chief ciei'k on the staff of the Director of Personal Services. Captain Cross said that Morton could I not be replaced. The chairman said that it seemed strange ' that the Department could not get Morton's work done by an older man and release Morton for active service at this critical time. Mr. : Perry remarked that it seemed that the Department was setting a bad example. The appeal w.as dismissed. ' "A Very Unjust Decision." Corporal William J. Sharkey, who was on' leave from camp, applied for total .exemption from service. He said that he, had lost 'hreo brothers in tho War, and in addition to having a wife to support was helping a sister, who had lost her husband at tho. front. This sister was living with an aunt who Lad lost four, sons 'in the war.The board said that it could not see its way- to make any further recommendation. Sharkey: That is a very unjust decision., Sharkey asked if he could have leavo to see bis wife through an operation. The board granted a month for this purpose. Sharkey': Is that nil? The chairman: Yes. Shnrkey: Then I wish you to keep it. That is most unjust. Appeal for Returned Officer Refused. Extended leave for Lieutenant B. W. Millier. was sought by the Marine Department. Millier had been brought back from the war to be given a commission. He had served over two years in tho Army. Tho chairman: It seems rather strange

to take an officer from a, military position and put him in a civilian position. The board decided that in view of tho fact that Lieutenant Millier had had two and a half years' training it would not recommend the application. Lad of Sixteen at the Front. The mother of Private George Frederick Chapman, a soldier on active eervice, appealed for her boy to bo sent back from the war. She said that the lad went to tho front when lie was sixteen years of age, ana that he was now. nearing eighteen. She thought he had done his share, and should be returned till he was of military age. On the suggestion of the chairman, Mrs. Chapman withdrew the appeal. An Aeroplane. "Inventor." Garnet Bowen Holmes, engineer, asked to be exempted in the interests of the public. ' He said that he had an aeroplane invention which he wished to place before American manufacturers, and that ho desired leave to go to the United States about tho matter. The board decided that he could go as a soldier if the military authorities thought fit to give Mm leave. Other Cases. James Eraser Thomson, clerk in the Telegraph Department, appealed on tho ground of undue lardslnp. He said that lie would not have appealed if tho Financial Assistance Board had mot him fairly. Decision nas reserved pending communication with tiie Financial Assistance Board. The board decided to grant indefinite leave to Private William Briseoe, whose case was before it last week.

Charles James Thornton, confectioner, appealed on the ground of unduo hardship. Ho said that two brothers, who were partners in the business, were at I tho ivar, and their interests as well as his own and those of two sisters were dependent on his staying here. If lie went, the business would have to bo closed down. The board reserved decision sine die.