MILITARY SERVICE BOARDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1917, Page 3

MILITARY SERVICE BOARDS.

THEIR STATUS AND INDEPENDENCE ASSERTED. At Saturday's fitting at Hawera of the First Wellington Military Service Boar*, Mr. R. D. Welsh asked leave to refer to the newspaper report that a memorandum had been addressed to the Military Service Boards by the Recruiting Board, with reference to the depletion of skilled farm workers, and policy to be followed with regard to production. After reading the report Mr. Welsh went on to say that he was aware that the Military Service Board was fully cognisant of its own position. His learned friends and himbelf knew that the board was a judicial body, armed with all the powers under the' Commis-> sions of Enquiry Act, 1900, and was exercising its functions as a judicial body without interference from the Government or anyone. The announcement in the press had come as a surprise, and perhaps in due course this board might make some pronouncement as to the position, so that counsel would be able to advise their clients. The chairman said the board had read the report referred to. For his part, he thought the report must be wrong, because he did not think the Government would endeavor to belittle the boards and interfere with their authority as a judicial body. The Military Service Boards were judicial bodies whose functions were distinctly defined by the Military Service Act. The whole thing must be wrong. The present board, with the other boards, had done its duty to the best of its ability, and sometimes under very distressing circumstances. The board had sometimes to give decisions which it had felt very keenly. He hoped that those who had appeared before the board had accepted the board's decisions, feeling that the board had done its best. He believed those who had come before the board had accepted th& position in the proper spirit. He did not wish to add anything further because he thought the newspaper statement must be a msitakc. The board had received no communication whatever from the Recruiting Board, anrt naturally the board would expect to receive any communication from the Recruiting Board before it appeared in the press. Captain Walker said that as military representative he had received no notice of such a memorandum as reported. As representing the Crown he thought he would have received a copy of the memorandum before it was published in the papers.

Mr. D. McLaren concurred in the chairman's remarks. The board was a judicial body and had carried out its arduous duties at times under very trying circumstances. He had at times met with individuals who had suggested that the board was told what to do. Now that was not so, and never had been so. The board had always given its decisions impartially, and to the best of its ability on the evidence presented. It was quite proper for the Government to make any pronouncement of policy that related to the public interest, but before any statement was published in the press it should first be sent to the boards or bodies concerned. In any of its deliberations the board had never taken into consideration reports in the newspapers. It would be a very grea.t sign of weakness if the board was to follow the newspaper comments, as very often these were misleading. He thought all realised that they were living under conditions of warfare, and even under the hardest circumstances the people were better r' 'ted than those in the Mother Com-. ■'. He believed that generally the decisions of the boards had been cheerfully assented to on aocount of the abnormal conditions existing. Mr. 0. Williams also concurred with what had been said bv his fellow members of the board.' There was a conference of the boards at Wellington recently, when the Minister made higjily complimentary references to the manner in which the various boards were carrying out their work, and thanked them cordially for it. It seemed to him that if the statement as reported were correct it would place the boards in a most extraordinary position. —Star. HAWERA APPEALS. At Saturday's sitting of the board the following appeals were heard: The appeal of Fred Thos. Maindonald. farmer, Rowan, was adjourned until after the first sitting in November, appellant having been boarded 82. He will, therefore, have to be examined by the Medical Board. Norman Horace Downs, sheep farmer, Toko (Mr. Taylor) appealed on the. ground of public interest and undue liardship. Appellant was working on his father's farm of 540 acres. He had three brothers, two of whom were under mill-1 tary age. The other had been called up for military service, but had been classified as C2. He desired exemption dur- j ing the shearing period. Shearers were unobtainable in bis district. Appellant and his C2 brother had arranged to shear for other farmers in the district. The shearing would probably finish about January.

In reply to a question, the appellant said if he were granted leave until December 11 that would suit him.

The appeal was dismissed and leave granted accordingly. The appeal of John Albert Gulliver, farmer, Whakamara. was formally withdrawn, appellant having been classified C2 by the Medical Board.

Sydney Duffy,- sheep farmer, Ngutuwera, appealed on the ground of public interest and undue hardship. Appellant gave evidence that he was' assisting his father to work a large sheep farm, and also a farm belonging to a brother who went away with the Main Body. This brother was still serving with the forces.

The appeal was adjourned sine die. Leonard Cecil Jackson, fanner. Otakeho (Mr. O'Dea), appealed on the grounds of .public interest and undue hardship. Appellant said that he was the sole support of his mother, and was working the farm by himself.

The appeal was adjourned sine die. Sidney Coombe, farmer. Oaonui (Mr, Taylor), appealed on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship.

Appellant, in addition to looking after his own farm, was managing the farms of his two brothers, who were on active service. He desired exemption until January in order to allow him to complete some necessary work; if possible, he A-ould be glad of longer exemption. The appeal was adjourned until December, when it will be again reviewed. The hearing of the appeal of Thomas Cyril Pimsnn.' farmer. Whenuakura. was adjournoi: until October 23. The adjourned appeal of George dickering, dairy farmer, Hawera (Mr. O'Dea) was reconsidered.

Mr. O'Dea said that as the appellant was acting entirely on his own, with

the assistance of his mother and sister, he submitted this war. a case where exemption could be granted sine die. Decision was reserved. The board gave its decision in the following appeals: F. 15. Cleland. adjourned until November sitting. J.' Johnstone, adjourned until January. D. T. Fitzgerald, adjourned sine die. •—Star,