RESERVISTS' DIFFICULTIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 206, 29 August 1918, Page 2

RESERVISTS' DIFFICULTIES.

A PUZZLING CASE. .MEDICAL CERTIFICATES. A sample of the difficulties that fas married men called up—and also thfc Military Service Board—was tiefbre the ■ First Auckland Board to-day. Wm. Fmlay (CI), Mt. Albert (Mr. Dickson) pleaded undue hardship on account of hie wife's ill-health. Appellant ! had appealed before on financial grounds. He eaid he was a wood and coal dealer, land carrier, which business he took on '. on account of his health. He had been previously 15i years a baker, and his lungs were affected. Counsel presented a doctor's certificate as to the wife'i health. Appellant eaid that if he had to go to camp he would have to sell the tousineee and sacrifice everything. Major Conlan: Well, that is quite necessary. It happens in many cases. Mr. Dickson 6aid it was evident the woman could not foe left alone, and the financial assistance given by the Government was surprisingly small. To leave such a woman was hardship. He realised that the Board did its best in cases of this kind, but it was hard.

VERY, VERY PUZZLING.

The Chairman: The Board does not know what to do in these cases. They are very, very puzzling. There are two serious aspects (1) that there is the man's first duty to his country, and (2) that his wife ie not fit to be left alone. Major Conlan: The trouble is that in

so many of these cases the. appellants aggravate their difficulties. The chairman said that the Board would like evidence—strong evidencethat the woman could not be left alone, and that the husband in her interest should be left here.

ONE FOR THE DOCTORS. Major Conlan: There again the Hoard is left to the mercy of, or has to rely on, certificates by doctors, some of whom about the town eeem to show great sympathy for appellants. Some of- their certificates %ome continually before this Board, showing that they have sympathy for appellants, and do not like to refuse them certificates. The Board decided to adjourn the case for further medical .evidence., ■;•