BOARD'S STAND

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 35, 11 February 1943, Page 4

BOARD'S STAND

RELEASES FROM ARMY NO USURPING OF FUNCTIONS Athough no objection was offered by the army to the release of two Grade I. men from their military duties, the No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board (Mr. I. J. Goldstine, chairman, and Messrs. S. Takle and T. F. AncJerson) refused to recommend their release.

Concerning the application for the release of J. C. Harkness on grounds of public interest and undue hardship, Mr. Percy Douglas Jones, managing director of J. Jones, Ltd., said Harkness had been in his firm's employ for 10 years prior to entering camp in May, 1942. He was married with three children. For many years Harkness had been acting as chief clerk. The permanent staff of the firm was over 70 emplovees. The firm dealt extensively "in foodstuffs and farmers' requisites. It was impossible to get men with the knowledge and experience possessed by Harkness.

Twenty-seven of the firm's staff were in the forces, said Mr. Jones, and the firm was compelled to employ inexperienced men to replace them. Harkness' loss was all the more felt in that his supervision of the staff would have been invaluable. The firm did an extensive business with the -armed forces, Public Works Department, and the general farming community in the suppb'ing of foodstuffs and general hardware. In the absence of Harkness the firm found it most difficult to carry on. Unit Commander's Attitude Lieutenant B. C. Hart, representing the army, said the unit commander had no objection to Harkness' release, although he was a Grade I. man. Mr. L. N. Harris (Crown representative): I don't like it. Grade 11. men can't get out. I cannot see why Grade I. men should be released. This man is 31 years of age, and he has been in camp since May. To recommend his release is to abandon the policy of this board. Lieutenant Hart: I am only conveying the unit's opinion to the board. It may be because he is a man with three children. Mr. Goldstine: It does seem inconsistent. We cannot have unit commanders usurping the functions of this board. Only in exceptional cases are Grade I. men released. Decision was deferred until the end of the sitting, when this and other applications were considered. The same firm made application for the release from the army of a motor driver, G. S. Morse, on the grounds of public interest. It was stated that he was also a Grade I. man and married, with three children. Morse's unit commander offered no objection to the soldier's release, said Lieutenant Hart. Case of Returned Soldier Regarding an application by the Onehunga Borough Council for the release of W. Lowrie, one of its truck drivers, Lieutenant Hart said Lowrie was doing special guard duty and could not be spared. Mr. R. D. Baker, Onehunga borough engineer, said Lowrie was a married man aged 52 and was a l eturned soldier from the last war. He was called up as a member of the National Military Reserve, and had keen in camp since January of last year. He was classed Grade 11. The council was short of men, and now that two others had been recently called up the council urgently required Lowrie's services. oJ'i, un <?erstand he has not been 3 e + u rmy as a motor drivei added the engineer "It would be interesting to know the he^doing 1 " 1 " 8 ° f the special dut y Lieutenant Hart: It is no concern of yours what duty he is doing. You have no right to know— Mr. Harris: Is the board to suffer under the mystery of what is the special guard duty? ' s tile tw h ?^ Ch - airma i\ Mr - Goldstine, said that m view of Lowrie's age and his grading decision would be reserved XSS hi'"! er 'J* 3118 Had 6eS sup plied by Lieutenant Hart. the a cas P ? e nf°M' d) l after dealin S with cue cases of Harkness and Morqp announced that it had no. recom' mendation to make. lecomA; similar decision was arrived at the application by W Sutherland and Company, Ltd for iq ° f H - T. Mincher aged stated hv L class - Jt was mgo L^, apphcants that Mincher was ui gently required for an important position in their tannery