A WIRELESS OPERATOR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9796, 20 October 1917, Page 7

A WIRELESS OPERATOR

SECOND COUSIN TO A GERMAN.

“A SOMEWHAT REMOTE EEBATIONSHIP.”

“Clarence Renner, an officer of the Post and Telegraph Department, was born in New Zealand. Ho is, therefore a British subject by birth. His father was bom in Manchester, England, and is also a British subject by birth. The relationship between George Renner and Clarence Renner is somewhat remote. They are descendants of the same greatgrandfather, and are therefore what is commonly known as second cousins.” Such was tho printed reply given in Parliament yesterday hy the Defence Minister (Sir James Allen) to the question put some days ago hy Mr W. Nosworthy, M.P. for Ashburton: “(1) Whether there is any relationship between one George Renner, who recently came before the Third Wellington Military Board and declined to go into camp on tho grounds that his parents were German, although naturalised, and Clarence Benner, a wireless operator at the Aroanui station, who was recently exempted by the same board and, of so, what relationship? (2) Whether it is desirable, if there is any relationship, that the latter young man should bo employed at Awanui at the wireless station, or elsewhere, outside the limits of Somes Island?”