New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 27, 28 December 1916, Page 5

New Zealand

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD. QUESTION OF RAILWAY SERVANTS. REDUCTION OF TRAINS URGED. (Per Press Association). Wellington, December 27. The Military Service Board this afternoon delivered a decision on the appeal made by the Railway Department on behalf of certain employees. In the case of W. li. Hales, expert time-table and train-running cierk, the Board reserved. its decision for two months and granted suspension from military service in the meantime, provided Hales remained in his present official position. "The Board," the chairman' proceeded, "desires to impress upon the Department the necessity for training some officer in the duties carried out by Hales, in order that shduld the necessity arise for Hales to be called to the front, such officer might be capable of filling his . place. The Board wishes further to recommend to the Department the desirability of reducing, if not altogether eliminating, the number of trains now run for the purpose of conveying the public to race meetings, shows, and other excursions. The necessity for this was elicited in Hales' evidence, in which he stated that out of 2250 trains .run : in" the Wellington district during the present year, 1500 of these were absolutely essential, leaving a balance of 750 run for excursion purposes only. The Board is of opinion that it is about time that the public realised that they must do away with at least some of their trains, so as to help in filling up the reinforcements." In other railway cases, Patrick Richard Ryan (signalman), Frederick Henry Cunningham (fireman), and Leslie Baker (fireman), the Board reserved its decision for three months, and granted exemption from military service in the meantime, provided reservists remained in their present occupations. James A. Dunn, farmer, Silverstream, had his appeal dismissed, but the military representative undertook to obtain leave for him till the end of March to enable him to dispose of bis farm. The Wellington- Meat Export Company desired exemption for Thomas Hope Murray, stock buyer and drafter, of Mastevton, urging that the busy season had now started and the work would be greatly inconvenienced by Murray's withdrawal. Decision was reserved pending a medical examination of Murray. The same company appealed on behalf of Arthur Drisooll, slaughterman, on the ground c*f difficulty in getting men to carry on this essential industry. The case was adjourned sine die, provided appellant remains in his present occupation and the military authorities receive periodical reports that the conditions of exemption are observed.

Samuel Colwell, driver, who had appealed on the ground of hardship and medical unfitness, did not appear, and his appeal was dismissed.