ARE THEY ESSENTIAL?

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 292, 29 August 1918, Page 7

ARE THEY ESSENTIAL?

APPEALS FOR WATERSiDERS QUESTIONS BY HARBOUR BOARD MEMBERS. Referonco to appeals for exemption from military service i>f waterside workers was made at tho mooting of tho Harbour Hoard last night. Country members of tho board niado it dear that they did not consider the exemptions granted were justified. Air. J. Cobbo asked tho chairman whether his attention had been drawn to tho fact that a considerable number of appeals had been made Iv the secretary of the union on behalf of waterside workers. It was well known that tho shipping of tho port was rcduccd. Up country men were being taken from essential industries. Businesses had had to be closed down, and sometimes tho last man bad been taken from the farm. The country industries wero being gravely injured by loss of men. And yet, when the shipping was less, it was urged that .it was absolutely necessary that no n'tou should be taken from the waterfront. It would be interesting to know whether these appeals wore justified or not. Tho chairman said that he had been consulted in this matter, bnt ho had declined to be a party t,o any r.ppeal unless by direction of the board. All that ho agreed to was that an officer of the board might go and. give in evidence before the Military Service Board any information required of him. Further than that he (Mr. Dauiell) bad declined to go. Mr. Cobbo: But is there a scarcity of labour on the waterfront? Mr. Hindmarsh: That is for the Military Court to say. It would be most indecent for us' to interfere. Mr. Cobbe would not have it that such inquiry was "iudecent." He said that while men were being exempted in Wellington, people in tho country were being causcd the greatest inconvenience by the loss of essential men. His oivn business manager and his farm manager were to go into camp. Small fanners woro in serious trouble, and some small businesses were being closed down. Thero was a feeling abroad in tho country that these appeals on behalf of waterside workers were not justified, and l that there was no such serious scarcity of wharf labourers as the military service boards were being asked to. believe. The chairman said ho agreed witli All. Cobbe as to the serious effect on country industries and businesses which was being caused by the taking away of necessary.men. He would like to see the people of the towns taking more interest in this. Mr. Wright said that the appeals were made by t : ho' union secretary, who had the right under the law to appeal, and the board would be beatiing tho air to discuss tho matter further.

Air. AlacFarlano said that the question was one which ought to be mentioned. In the towns men who could easily be spared were being exempted, while in the country practically every man was being taken. On small dairy farms tho last man helper was being taken out of the milking-shed. He thought public attention should be called to tho matter.