MILITARY SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 44, 15 November 1940, Page 5

MILITARY SERVICE

Native Of Ireland Claims Exemption STATUS OF COUNTRY Stating that he was a native of Ireland, which was a neutral country, John Power, aged 30, a ship's steward, who was drawn in the first territorial ballot, sought exemption from military duties from the Wellington Manpower Committee yesterday. Appellant was Informed that the advice received by the committee was that Ireland was part of the British Commonwealth of Nations. The chairman of the committee, Mr. M. F. Luckie, offered appellant the choice of an adjournment to enable him to secure legal advice in support of his application or dismissal of his i equest. The hearing concluded by appellant accepting dismissal of his application. Power said he had been born in Tipperary. He had no dependants. He had been in New Zealand for two years and had spent about 30 years at sea. The secretary of the committee said he had suggested to appellant that be should .secure legal advice. The advice rhe committee had received was that i;eland was part of rhe British Commonwealth of Nations, Appellant said he had not consulted a solicitor as he considered be could present his case best himself. Mr. Luckie: Have yon tried to get a solicitor? Appellant replied that he aid not think tiny solicitor would lake his When appellant raised several more | questions as to the international law. i Mr. 1!. Cable, a member of the commit- ( lee, pointed out that it was appellant’s | duty to prove his ease. Mr. E. Canham. a member of the ‘ i ommittee, compared apiiellant’s atti- i tilde with that, of other Iri.sh-born mem- ; 1.-ers of the British Commonwealth of I Nations. He had been instructed to i look after such people and not a single t Irishman among those be had had to ■ deal with had claimed that lie was | alien born. Mr. Luckie: It is no use arguing this matter further: you can take an adjournment if you want to call evidence or accept dismissal of rm application. Appellant said be would accept dis- I missal. Charles John Bell, yl.-rk employed by ’ Burch and Co., appealed for postpone- ’ incut of his service til! married men 1 were called up. slating that he had I been married since Mac 1 and early calling rip would cause financial hard- | ship. Appellant said Ids wages were Co/IJ/- ; a week: his mother-in-law. who lived ’ with him. received a pension of £1 a week, and iiis wife, who had been working since a fortnight after their marriage on July 6, was earning £3/10/- a week. Appellant said he had numerous commitments. Mr. Luckie suggested that appellant should consult the Stat.- Advances Corporation. He also pointed to appellant's earnings while in camp The appeal was dismissed. Because they had been brought from |

Australia for a specilic purpose and | were not regarded as n-sidents of New Zealand, six members of National Carbon Proprietary were removed from the register. Advice was received from the Naiiotml Service Department head office that employee* of the firm concerned were not regarded as residents of New Zealand within the meaning of the i regulations. The men were struck oil the tegister with the proviso that any who remained in New Zealand beyond the date specified in their contract must re-register as members of the reserve so that they would qualify for anv subsequent ballots. Persona! appeals lodged by James Raymond Tollan and James Anderson Nieoll. waterside workers, were dismissed.