LOCAL BODIES AND THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1918, Page 7

LOCAL BODIES AND THE WAR.

SHOULD THEY SEEK TO RETAIN THEIR MEN? DISCUSSION AT THE MOA ROAD - BOARD. At Saturday's meeting of the Moa Road Board at Inglowood, some strong and decided opinions were expressed regarding the action of the chairman in seeking to obtain extension of leave for one of its employees. The Minister of Defence wired concerning an application for extension of leave for T. J. Bowler that, in view of the urgency of the position, he was asking the camp commandant to grant leave up to 14" days. If any further leave were grunted the case would have to be referred to the Military Service Boari?. A later letter from the Director of Recruiting said that the matter had been referred to the Third Military Service Board.

The chairman explained what had led up to the application. They had advertised in four papers for someone to take Mr. Bowler's place as engine-driver and had received one application. Later the applicant said he could not take up the position, as his employers had induced him to stop with them. When Mr. Bowler'went to camp they'were therefore left without a driver, and he had arranged with the borough to permit Mr. Branch to take his holidays, Mr. Branch having agreed to drive the roller during his vacation. He (the chairman) had then approached Mr. Okey on the matter, who in turn had communicated with the camp commandant, and Mr. Bowler was granted H days' leave and arrived here on February i. They had applied for further temporary leave until they could obtain a successor. Mr Henwood moved that the action of the chairman in obtaining leave for the engine-driver be confirmed.—Mr Bowler seconded.

Mr. Laurence took exception to the action of the chairman in applying to the Military Service Board for exemption from service of an employee. He did not consider that any man fit for j service, should be exempt. They were all sending their boys to the front, and he did not consider any public body should seek exemption for serviceable men.

Mr Trimble s>?so took exception to the chairman'* action. There were already for too many perfectly fit men being kept hBeV for ordinary work. The most important thing was to win the wai. and that could only be done by placing men in the firing line. The cry of fond production was simply a shirker's cry t(> rob the country of men, who should he at the front, and no one ought tn help i n setting fit men of military age »wi.y from their plain duty. ■Mr. T»ep<?bv said he would oppose the motiov. <u- he did not think fit men shnuV he kept out of service. The chairman considered that Mr. Lawrence h»d really been childish and had spoken o <: having n man up his sleeve, J.f ], c hsti know of a, man fit for the work he should, hp.ve said so at the time. There was no doubt that Mr. Bowler would never see the trenches, as he was not strong enough for the life there, and it was only wasting time training him while there were hundreds of strong men walking about the streets. Mr. Lawrence asked the chairman to withdraw his remark about the speaker being childish There was no cause for the 7<>m»r!.-. He had told the chairman that he knev: of r man who would take th°. position provided it wa.? a permanent av.i\. This 'ho had told as soon as he fcne/57 it.

Thffl ciialrnipn said lie absolutely re!\>>"i\ to withdraw his remarks. Atr. Lawrence bad not communicated what lie I:jipv.- to the speaker until after he 'had taken the steps that had been tUfeflTl, Mr. J. P.. Simpson thought that the chpirninn had takoij tj/fi hest possible course open to him. Bowler was only in the preparing c.yiiip and might be sent out at any tir/e. He would endorse +he chairman's ration. Messr-, Huntir and TTair also spoke in. support and the resolution was carried, \|r. Trimble asking to have his vote recorded against, itTh« chairman also referred to the action oi the Inglewood Borough Council ,in allowing their overseer to take charge of the hoard's roller, and on his motion it v.'ps resolved to forward a vote of thanks to the Inglewood. Borough Council The action of Mr. Branch in forfeiting his holiday was also appreciatively referred to, and it was resolved unanimously, on the motion of Mr. A. K. Lawrence, seconded V.y Mr. ■!. B. Simpson, that Mr. Branch he thanked for bis kindness and be paid £1 per day.