BALLOT APPEALS

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

This morning the Third Wellington Military Service Board resumed its sittings. In the absence, through illness, of Mr. D. M. Findlay, Mr. M. J. Mack. presided, and with him were Mr. A." O'L. Considine and Mr. T. Bamber. Capt. P. Baldwin represented the military authorities. •■ ' ■'• ... In the case of'the employer's appeal for Norman William' Gandy, clerk, Masterton, the board; dismissed the appeal, leave being granted until the April draft. .

A personal appeal and an employer's appeal were lodged on behalf of John Thorburn, engineer, Vogeltown. It was stated that he is 42 years of age, with a wife in delicate health. An adjournment for three.months was granted.

William John Eodger, branch manager at Auckland for the New Zealand 1 Farmers' Bacon Co., was appealed for by his employer. The appeal was dismissed, Rodger to go into camp with the April draft. ■ _ Extension of time until 30th April was granted in the case of Edmund N. Kebbell, farmer, Pahautanui, who was represented by. Mr. M. F." Luckie. The manager of- the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile •Agency Co., Ltd.- ;i appealed on beroalf of George Shand, branch manager for the firm at Napier. He sought total exemption, or, failing that, extended leave owing to the great depletion of the staff. It was stated that 160 of the firm's employees have gone to the war, and the company has paid half wages to them while away. The present occasion was the first on which total exemption had been sought for any of .the firm's men. . A three months' adjournment was,granted. Sine die adjournments. were granted in the cases of the following slaughter-, men, for whom Mr/ M. J. Rear'don, secretary of (jhe union, appeared :—W. S. H. ' M'Fetrish, Wanganui; J. A. Saunders, Carterton; A. R. Petersen, Dunedin; John Tunbridge, Belfast; and William Henry Harris, Masterton. The individual appeal of • Henry James O'Kane. Hastings, was, referred to. the No. 2 Board, and that <of Francis John Mallinder was dismissed owing to his non-appearance. Mr. Charles Grayudler, secretary of the Shearers' Union, appealed on behalf of the ■ following shearers: —Clarence H. Snow, Martinborough ; Gordon] H. Templeton, Herbertville ; and Charles Thompson,. Takapau.—Exemption sine die was granted in the caeeof 'Snow.; an.ad-, journment until 30th April, and after hearing evidence the appeal of Thompson was withdrawn. • /.■■ '-h ■■

Mr. A. W. Blair appeared to support appeals by E. Hannah and Co., Ltd., for A. J. Wi'ilett and A. tightfowler, clickere employed by them, and also.in connection with the Equity Boot Company's appeal for Sydney Smith, another clicker. Once again the great shortage o£.this.class of tradesman was "Stressed, and evidence was given that clickers are among the most essential "workers in the industry.— Jn each case an adjournment for three' months .was granted. . ■•'. _' .

It was decided to recommend four months', leave for domestic reasons in the case of Pte. J. F. Edgar, Trentham Camp. In the case of Thomas Edgar Gray, who has several;brothers serving, an adjournment for three months'was granted. Mr. L'E. Edwards appeared on behalf of the appellant.

(Proceeding.)