MILITARY SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1917, Page 7

MILITARY SERVICE.

MINERS' APPEALS RECEIVED. FITTING REMARKS BY CHAIRMAN. STRIKERS' EXEMPTIONS WITHDRAWN. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Greymouth, May 2. The Military Service Board to-day reviewed the appeals on behalf of coal miners. The chairman (Mr. Evans, S.M.), said tho position was that somo time ago the go-slow policy was in vogue at some mines, and the Board issued definite warnings that unless the output was kept up to normal exemptions could not be granted. The Board adjourned the final consideration of the eases twice in the hope that better counsels would prevail, instead of which thtminers, with the excception of those at Brunnerton, went on Btrike. This strike was settled between tho Ministers and the miners, and the delegates of the miners agreed to resume work ami abandon the go slow policy,' and did resume accordingly. As the miners had agreed to abandon the go slow policy the conditions determined by the Board as a condition for granting exemptions was satisfied, and the Board was free to grant exemptions as heretofore. But on April 28 the State miners again struck work over a paltry question which could, and no doubt would, be settled without any trouble, as the whole question involved only n matter of ninepence per week as the maximum and fivepeucc as the minimum. In a time of national crisis, when the Empire was engaged in a life and death struggle, when thousands of the flower of our manhood were giving their lives for their country, these men again strike, disorganise the country and paralyse its industries over a paltry question that could easily have been settled. The Paparoa miners also struck over a question that could, and no doubt would, have come before the conference to be held between the miners' delegates and the owners pursuant to agreement. The Board could say, without qualification, that there were no conditions whatever existing in New Zealand which justifiod a strike, and if any class of workers chose io take that method of trying to "force a settlement of grievances as paltry aB those under consideration, and disregard the agreement made they would have to reckon with the Military Service Boards. If those ' subject to the Military Service Act were not, prepared ■to do duty in essential industries, they could get exemption from ihc Boards. "The appeals of all the miners from tha State and Paparoa mines who, since the .resumption of work pursuant to agreement with the Ministers had again ■struck, will be dismissed. The appeals of those who resumed work and continued therein will be adjourned as heretofore. All exemptions granted and to be granted arc expressly upon the condition that the men exeinpted must give their best labors to the industry they were exempted for,' or the exemptions will be cancelled without further notice."

A NEW PROVISO. 'v"TJ" Palmerston N., May 1. A new proviso was inserted in an exemption from service issued by the Military Appeal Board here to-day. The settler concerned was absolved from active service provided he remains in his present occupation and "raises such crops as may be required by the Minister of Agriculture." In another case the Board ordered to camp a young man who had previously been exempted on misleading evidence.