MILITARY SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1918, Page 7

MILITARY SERVICE.

NEW PLYMOUTH SITTING CONCLUDED. . 1 The No. 1 Wellington District Military Appeal Board (Messrs D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., chairman, D. McLaren and Guy C. Williams) concluded their sitting in New Plymouth yesterday. Captain Walker, military representative, and Major Cox, representing the group, were also present. The following cases were heard: METHODIST MINISTERS' APPEALS. A number of appeals by Methodist Ministers were dealt with, the Rev. W. A. Sinclair, President of the Methodist Conference of New Zealand, appearing on their' Behalf. In each case, decision was reserved, the usual proviso that appellants report to the group commander of their respective districts, being waived, the president of the Conference undertaking to notify the Defence office of any change. The cases were as follows: Rev. Chas. Harris, Ohura: Rev. W. A. Sinclair gave evidence that appellant was in charge of a large area of country and he understood was the only minister of any denomination in that area. To the chairman: They had no one that they could put in his place as their resources were all exhausted. Rev. Arthur Leversedge, Cfiristchurch. Rev. Sinclair deposed that appellant was a minister in charge of two churches in ChristchurcTi. His parish was already one man short owing to war conditions. Conference was required to find two or three men as chaplains and tlieir places would have to be filled with local supply. Rev. T. W. Featherston, Boma Missinner, Roxburgh. Central Otagov Rev. W. A. Sinclair deposed that appellant had three places under liis charge in an outlying district, which could not be carried on by local supply. Rev. W. .1. Oxbrow, minister, Willoughby, Canterbury. Rev, Sinclair stated that appellant Tiad six places under bis charge in a widely scattered district. He was moreover wrongly clashed, having three children.

&sv. H. L. Richards, minister, Fitzroy. Rev. Sinclair stated that appellant had charge of Fitzroy and four country places, nine or ten miles distance. He had been medically boarded C2, and was also in the wrong class, having one child. Rev. Sinclair stated "that in New Plymouth he had two assistants, but next year had decided to dispense with one owing to war conditions. Rev. ,Tas., Richard, clergyman. Wellington, in charge of Newtown and three or four other places, including Island Bay. Rev. Raymond Richards, Inglewood, in charge of Inglewood and four country places. Rev. W. A. Sinclair asked when the Board was likely, to sit agaia in New Plymouth, pointing out that he would be in Sydney, next month. The chairman stated that it would probably be March before the next sitting and suggested that Ij£v. W. A. Sinclair should delegate his authority to some one. Rev W. A. Sinclair stated that lie would instruct Mr. Bennett, who had appeared in previous cases and this was agreed ti>. RAILWAY SURFACEMAN'S APPEAL. Henry James Stimpson, railway surfaceman, Inglewood (Mr. H. R. Billing) appealed on the grounds of undue hardship. The Railway Department had also appealed in this ease,' but withdrew the appeal. Appellant deposed that he was aged 3ft and single. He had two married sisters and sijc brothers. Three single brothers were at. the front, having volunteered and another was classed C2. One married brother was also classed C2. His father was aged 68 and was crippled, and at times appellant had to assist his mother, who was also delicate. Appellant's work took him away from home from 7 a.m. till p.m. He leased six acres from the Railway Department and milked three cows. He also gave financial assistance to his parents. He was willing to go to the the front if his father could be looked after. To Captain Walker: His father was about, half his time in bed. His father had been a railway ganger for about 30 y?ars and received a pension of about SO? per week. Decision reserved sine die. A T/\HIKI C'ASF. Robert James, farm laborer, Tarikl (Mr. A. H. Johnstone), whose case was adjourned from October 17 last, deposed that the position had not changed since that date. He was still milking 33 cows and doing the whole of the farm work. He was medically boarded CI. To Captain Walker: TIU brother Edgar had enlisted two years previously and was at the front. Decision was reserved sine dje, subject to the usual conditions. WRONG CLASSIFICATION. Tlip following appeals, on account of wrong classification were allowed: John Sydney Chard, farmer, Waitaia (Mr. I'.onnctt). class F; Christian Anderson, farm manager, Purangi, class K; William IVmplar Kishop, dairy farmer, Kgrnopt Village, class H; John Mri,eud factofry manager, Okato, class B; Septimus Sheen, station manager, Moliakatina, class B; Alfred Je«se Watson, carpenter, Westown, Class B. In the case of William 11. I'reece, hair dresser, New Plymouth (Mr. A. IT. foiinstone), who appealed on the grounds that lie was in class li, Mr. A. 11. Johnstone stated that appellant's child was horn on t»:e muiic day that he wus drawn in the ballot. It was doubtful if appellant would pass the doctor and he suggested that the case should be adjourned pending medical examination. Adjourned till next session. APPEALS WITHDRAWN. Lieutenant Clias. T. Arnold, New Plymouth. a voluntary recruit, who luid applied for extendod leave, withdrew |hU appeal, wliloh was formallv dismissed, The appeal of Frank Gordon Ross, of Waltara, was transferred to the Auckland district. I This concluded the sitting.