MAYOR DISAPPOINTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 156, 3 July 1940, Page 17

MAYOR DISAPPOINTED.

ENLISTMENT REFUSED. MAN-POWER BODY'S DECISION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) OHMSTCHURCH, Tuesday. The Ghristchurch man-power committee has in the meantime refused the enlistment of the Mayor of Chri*tR. M. MacFarlane, M.P., for service ; overseas. This was announced to-day:by the chairman of the committee, Mjr. J. S. Barnett, who is at the moinentt an inmate of the Chrietchurch Public ,i Hospital. According to his statement the committee- maSe its. decision ' "in the puWic interest/' con-, siderinw that in the meantime the services of the Mayor could best be-usedi locally.

"I did not expect to hear this decision from the man-power committee and I am naturally disappointed, having made all arrangements preparatory to being called up," said Mr. MacFarlane, "but of course there are still other channels open to me. At the same time, I think I can say that the work I have lieen doing and the work I am doing now as Mayor of Chrustchurch is of some national importance.

"The position has been somewhat complicated by the introduction of conscription, in that married men must now take their turn in the ballot. I hope in the meantime that it will be [KJssible for me to do my bit, perhaps in the territorials or in some other branch of home defence."