BALLOT APPEALS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 246, 5 July 1918, Page 6

BALLOT APPEALS

t SECOND MILITARY SERVICE BOARD , , i YESTERDAY'S SITTING Tho Second Military Service Board completed its sitlings in Wellington yesterday. J'lie members sitting were Mr. ')'■ Poynton,' S.M., chairman, and Messrs. T. Baniber ahd F. Curtice. Captain Bealo appeared as military representative. Appeal was made by Commissioner U Donovan on behalf of forty members of tile Police Force in all parts of New Zealand. The board gave the usual sine die adjournment : n all cases. Appeal was made on tho ground of public interest and undue hardship by Melbourne Orchard, clothing manufac- ™'. 'n Invercargill, Christchurcli, and •Wellington. Jt was represented that the business of the firm was important, inasmuch as they had contracts from tho Defence Department to execute, and it was also stated by a partner in the firm that if Orchard had to go the business would have to bo closed. Tho board was sceptical on this statement about the supremo importance of one man in such a business, and reserved decision until the first meeting of the board in September, in order that inquiries might be made/ Sidney V. Walker, warehouseman, of Jvarori, was appealed for by his employers. It v was stated that Walker was an indispensable expert in the trade of making umbrellas, and that he was responsible for the manufacture of' a good percentage of the umbrellas sold in this country. It was admitted, however, that nil tho materials from which the articles were made were imported. The board dismissed the appeal, with leave until the October draft. Ihe Education Board appealed for the exemption of two teachers now in camp, by name Wilfred W. ICidd'and A. A. Kirk. Indefinite leave without pay is to be recommended in the case of these two men. Decision was reserved sine die in the appeal of James Alexander Hannah, managing director of the firm of Eobert Hannah and Company, boot importers and manufacturers. Mr. C. P. Skerrett, Jt.O., whoi appeared in support of-the appeal, said that it was recognised that boot manufacture was an essential industry, and Messrs. Hannah and Company were the largest manufacturers of boots in the Dominion. The appellant was the controller of this big business, wnich employed four hundred hands, ™d supplied many retail .shops in New Zeaand. Mr. Hannah had two brothers at the front, and he was himself .12 yrars of age. In reply to Captain Eeale, appelant staled that it would be absolutely impos* sible now for his father 'to take his (appellants) place in the business. In giving_ decision the chairman of tho board said that the board recognised that appellant had two brothers at the fiont. It had exempted others in the samo position. Private Harry Jl'Kay, a returned soldier now in camp at Treritham, asked for release from service. Ho said that ho himself had served for threo years •find six months. Two of his brothers had been killed at the front, and one Pw f l' ll servi "S- /I'he chairman said that the board considered the record of the family a very fine one, and would recommend six months' leave without payPrivate S. H. Bird, Fortieth Enforcements, was recommended five months' leave without pay for family reasons. Appellant was a returned soldier. A good record was shown by Gunner JNicholas Peter, returned soldier, of Paremata. Though still under twenty years of age, he had already served two years and a Jialf, and he was the pole support of his aged parents. The board decided to recommend six months' leave. The appeal of William T. Willmott, painter, of Karori, was dismissed, with leave nntil the November draft. The board agreed to recommend ninety days' leave in the ease of William H Allies, a returned soldier with three and a half years' service, and six months' leave in the case of another returned'soldier, H. B. Scott.