MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1917, Page 5

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

A PRIEST'S APPEAL. QUESTION OF MINISTER'S CERTIFICATE, . RULING OF BOARDS DIFFERS. By Telegraph.— Press Association. Blenheim, Last Night. At the hearing of the appeal of Father Patrick Kay by the Canterbury Military Appeal Board, a copy of u newspaper was produced containing the report of the Archbishop's appeal with respect to the same priest in Wellington, where the ease was adjourned sine die, with the condition that the case be reheard before the Second Diviison.

The chairman, Mr. Evans, S..Al'., gave an important and far-reaching decision regarding the minister's certificates. He said iij was a mistake to have a personal appeal heard before one Board and the Archbishop's appeal before another. There was no minister's certificate attached to this appeal. He regretted he could not follow entirely the decision of the Wellington Board, as he did not consider the Appeal Board could put any condition on the minister's certificate unless the evidence justified the Board in overriding the certificate. The certificate was, prima facie, sufficient evidence of hardship, and became conclusive evidence of hardship, unless evidence to the contrary was adduced before the Board. The duty of producing such evidence, if it existed, lay on the military authorities. If no such evidence was produced, tho certificate was sufficient evidence of hardship arid should be given effect to unqualifiedly. As the certificate had been issued with respect to this priest, this Board would act on it, as no evidence to the contrary had been brought beforo the Board. Tho appeal was adi journed sine die, without tha condition [tamp \% *fea fftfWift'sfts|t;.vr;,: