MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 May 1917, Page 7

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

THE HAWERA SITTING. Tho sitting of the First Wellington Military Service Board (Messrs D. 0. A. Cooper, chairman, D. McLaren, and W. Perry) was continued at Hawera on Saturday. Captain Walker, military representative, Major Cox, officer commanding the gruop, and Lieut. Furby were also present. FIVE BROTHERS AT THE FRONT.

Gerald Flynn, farm laborer, Te Wera, appealed on the grounds of undue hardship. He was single, aged 32 0 and helped to support his mother, who was a widow. There were eight sons in the family, Ave being already at the front. One of the other brothers was married, with five children, and was farming at Taumarunui. A young brother, aged 18, was farming at Toko. Appellant had three sisters, one of whom was married.

_ Captain Walker said 'he had no questions to ask. This family had shown an excellent example, and it was un' donbtcdly a hard case. Ho found difficulty in pressing this reservist to go into camp, though he did not think that appellant's evidence supported the plea of undue hardship. He would, however, leave that for the Board to decide. In reply to the chairman, appellant said his brothers had allotted some, of their pay to their mother,, who was banking it for them. One brother returned wounded twelve months ago, and was only now able to work. The chairman said that after the splendid record put up by the family, the Bsaxd found it rather hard to ask the appellant to go into camp, but in view of the great need of men, the Minister of Defence having said that men were more necessary even than produce, he adked appellant whether he could see his way to withdraw his appeal. Ho referred to the fine record of the family, five brothers out of eight toeing at the front, while of the remaining three one was too old and the other too young. Appellant stated he was the main support of his mother, who was an invalid. He agreed to withdraw Mb appeal, and was granted leave until July 25. A RELIGIOUS OBJECTOR.

When Ernest Hedley, a religious objector, called up under section 35, was about to be sworn, he aßked whether his word would not do,, as he objected to being sworn. The chairman stated appellant could make an affirmation. Appellant wished this read out to him first,- but finally made the affirmation, fie deposed that be was aged -22, single, and a cabinet maker working in Hawera, He was a Bible student, and followed the teaching of the International Bible Students' Association. The chairman: Is that a religious body?— Yes. The chairman: How long have you been a member of that body?---All my life; my grandfather and father were members before me. Jhe chairman: Is it against the tenets of that body to bear arms?— Yes. Appellant produced documentary evidence, whicn he read at length. To the chairman: He could not say when the documents were drawn up. They came from Australia. The chairman: Pardon me, do the documents not refer to the Military Service Act.—Yes. The chairman: The document was drawn up Bince the war began. Captain Walker: It is evidently drawn up with a view to such cases. The chairman drew appellant's attention to the fact that before his appeal on the grounds of religious objection could be heard he must Bign a declaration agreeing to perform non-combatant work. The chairman read the regulation.

! Appellant stated he was not aware of this; and he asked to be allowed to read the regulation. After doing so, he statod that ho did not care about signing the undertaking, as previous experience had shown him that after religious objectors had gone into camp the regulation had been ignored, and they had been put to where the military wanted them. In reply to Mr. McLaren, appellant said he had heard that this was so. Tho chairman: When you have lived a little longer you will know that you hear a lot that is not true.

•Witness would not sign the undertalcing unless the Board would give him a written guarantee that he would not be forced to fight. He was quite willing to do ambulance or Red Cross work, or any work of national importance outside the camp. Mr. McLaren: You to be judge of its importance! Appellant said he would follow out the particular undertaking as far as it conformed to the teachings of Christ and his own conscience. Mr. McLaren wanted to know whether one *of the esesntial teaching* of Christianity was not humaneness and kindliness to those in distress. He drew appellant's attention to the parable of the good Samaritan, and asked whether in face of the fact that there were tens of thousands of wounded requiring assistance he could as a Christian refuse to help to gavo the lives of those wounded and in distress.

Appellant was prepared to go Into camp and do hospital or Rod Cross wortr, but, if asked to do other work, could not do so, if he were in the same mind as at present. 'He would require a written guarantee that lie would not bo asked to do combatant work, a 9 his experience as a territorial was that the military took no notice of any complaints. He admitted he did not know of any specific case where a religious objector who had signed 'for non-combat-ant service had been put in as a combatant. Ho would not take part in the machine of war unless in Red Cross work.

After further discussion appellant still maintained he could not sign the declaration, as 'he did not think the military would abide by it. Captain Walker: If you sign the undertaking and anyone asks you to do combatant work, you have your remedy —rofuse to do it, Tho chairman: Will you sign the undertaking? Appellant declined to do so, The chairman: You know tha'. if you don't sign it your appeal will be dismissed. Appellant: It is only a scrap of paper and the authorities wifl ignore it. Mr. McLaren pointed out that the Act made provision for religious objectors, and a further regulation was mode giving them special consideration; yet, despite this, appellant would not sign unless he got a written assurance. The Appeal Board, tie said, thought there was a good deal of hypocrisy in appellant's attitude, as, whilst posing as truthful himself, tie considered others ware decaitful

Appellant understood that a clause lad lately been introduced so that religious objectors could do work of national importance without wearing the uniform. The chairman: What objection is there to wearing the uniform 1 Do you think you look better in plain clothes? Appellant said he stilt refused to sign tile undertaking, and was leaving the box when tho chairman said: "Wait one moment! That being so. it cuts the ground from under your feet, and the appeal must bo dismissed. Now the military authorities will want something to say to you, I suppose. To Major Cox: Does the attesting officer want appellant? Major Cox: Ho refuses to attest, so will be given notice to proceed to camp on May 30. A WITHDRAWAL ALLOWED. Norman Raymond Corkill, dairy farmer, Stratford, who appealed on the ground of public interest and undue hardship, wrote asking tq be allowed to withdraw 'his appeal, as on further consideration he had decided not to go on with it. The Board, in allowing the appeal to be withdrawn, commended appellant's spirit, ADJOURNED CASES. Thomas Lynch, farmer, Matapu, who was medical-boarded 82, and whose case was adjourned from last sittings, had his appeal further adjourned until the next sitting, the Medical Board having certified that a three months' extension was necessary. The ease of James Adanison, blacksmith, Manaia (Mr. O'Dea), adjourned from last sitting for proof of age, was further adjourned. DISMISSED OR WITHDRAWN. The following cases were formally dismissed, appellants 'having been medicalboarded 02:—Charles B. Lee, dairy farmer, Eltham; Wm. Mortlock, dairy farmer, Normanby; General, Gordon Nighti Ingale, fancy goods dealer, Manaia. ! John Munro, laborer, Hawera>, who api pealed on the grounda of undue hardship, did not appear and his appeal was ' dismissed. TO-DAY'S CASES. I The Board adjourned until 10 o'clock this morning, when the following cases Will be heardr—Loui9 Sehuder, farmer,

mgiewooa; Heroert Horace tfogera, dairy farmer, Stratford; Arthur William Shield, sheep farmer, Whangamomona; Patrick J. Mcßeynolds, farmer, Opunakc; Samuel Arthur Tippett, dairy Okaia-wa; B, E. Cleland, farmer, Kaponga; John Cook, cheese .factory manager, midhirst; Henry McKay, dairy farmer, 'Hawera; Henry Larkins, sawmill hand, Pohokura; Geo. Stephen, dairy farmer, Auroa; John Daniel Eowo, dairy farmer, Ngaere; Allan Campbell, dairy farmer, Pihama; Edward Griffith Jones, farmer, Midhirst; Jameß Horn, late miner, now motor driver, Kaponga; Charles Edward Trott, dairy farmer, Eltham; William Donaldson, farm manager, Toko; Geo. Wm. Were, farm assistant, Toko; John William Moody, farmer, Matau; Reginald Bridge, bank manager, Kaponga (exemption until July 1); ■Robert Cookson, dairy farmer, Kaupokonui; J. J. Landers, temporary exempted volunteer recruit; William Swann,' dairy farmer, Stratford; K. A. Carmichael, dairy farmer, Kakaramea; Patrick Edward Callaghan, farmer, Ngaere; Donald McKay Smith, shearer and farmer, Puniwlmkau; John Edwrd Smith, farmer, Ng-utuwera; Alfred Noel Brown, cheese maker, Kapuni; George E. Brooking, factory manager, Tututawa; Patrick John Breen, farmer, Stratford; Fredk. Gawith, dairy farmer, Hawera; James Richard Tiddft voluntary recruit.