REDUCED IN NUMBER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 July 1943, Page 4

REDUCED IN NUMBER

ARMED FORCES APPEAL BOARDS STATEMENT BY MINISTER. APPRECIATION OF SERVICES RENDERED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, This Day. The Minister of National Service (Mr McLagau), in a statement today, announced changes made in. the establishment of the Armed Forces Appeal Hoards. These changes became effective as from Monday, July 12. A reduction has been made in the number of boards from 25 to 19, and the opportunity lias been taken to remove certain administrative and other anomalies which arose in consequence of the change. Although a reduction in the number of boards has been found practicable, it is anticipated that for some time to- come Lite remaining boards will be kept particularly busy. There is a great deal of work to be done in keeping under careful review the very considerable number of postponements, and while the volume of new appeals may not be considerable, a systematic review of postponements is a task which is becoming increasingly difficult.

Six boards only—those at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Napier, Greymouth and Dunedin—will now deal with appeals on grounds of conscientious objection. For this purpose they will require to travel over extended areas. The reason for limiting jurisdiction over appeals on this ground to a few boards is to ensure a maximum uniformity of decision in a class of appeal which presents peculiar difficulties. For the Central Military District seven boards have been appointed in place of the former nine. In the Wellington area, the two former boards have been reappointed. In addition Mr R. A. L. Treadwell, of Wellington, has been appointed deputy-chairman of Mr Luckie’s board. One of two boards at Napier is disbanded. At Masterton, Mr T. Jordan has asked to be relieved of his position as chairman, but otherwise the personnel of the board is unchanged. In the Southern Military District the number of boards has been reduced from nine to seven. For area 10 there are three boards — two in Christchurch and one in Timer u. “The reduction in the number of beards,” said the Minister, “has unfortunately made it impossible to reappoint all the previous members. In addition, some members have, for business or other reasons, asked to be relieved of further duties. It is much regretted that the services of experienced and competent personnel will be lost.” Stipendiary magistrates who have been chairman of boards —Messrs S. L. Paterson, Hamilton; F. F, Reid, Christchurch, and J. R. Bartholomew, Dunedin—will be returning to their magisterial duties and the Minister expressed appreciation of the action of the Justice Department in having made their services available. Mr McLagan also paid a tribute to the excellent work done by the appeal boards and by the former manpower committees. “Their task,” he said, “has been difficult and has made very heavy demands on their time, particularly during the past 18 months. I am most appreciative of the good work that has been done and of the services which have been rendered and wish to express, on behalf of the Government, sincere thanks both to those continuing in office and to those relinquishing their appointments.”