FIRST APPEALS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11, 13 January 1945, Page 6

FIRST APPEALS

IMMOBILISATION ORDER

MEN WHO SERVED IN PACIFIC Following the recent announcement that long-service men in the Middle East would be replaced by category A men on furlough from the Third Division, or who had been returned for essential work, as well as by men who had not seen overseas service, appeals against the remobilisation of eight returned servicemen from the Pacific were heard at a sitting of the Armed Forces Appeal Board yesterday afternoon. The appeals were the first of their kind heard by the board. Seven appeals were lodged by the employers of the men and the eighth was by the reservist himself. Personal appeals were also lodged in respect of three servicemen.

The majority of the employers stated that they employed small staffs and had accepted additional contracts because of the men having been directed to their employment. They were willing to accept an adjournment of the mobilisation dates in order to finish such contracts. The departmental manager of one firm said that he had inferred from a circular issued to the men that they would be available for employment for some considerable time.

Mr. T. F. Anderson, a member of the board, pointed out that circumstances changed. There had been a definite change of policy on the part of the Government in this connection.

The board dismissed all appeals, but adjournments were granted in respect of seven reservists as follows: Leslie Raymond Cordes (appeal by Philip Morgan), two. months; Thomas Lawrence Foley (Mrs. G. Foley and Terrazzo Works), two months; Lewis James Harding (S. H. Harding), four months; William David Henderson (self and J. Duthie and Company, Ltd.), three months; Robert Thomas Howland (F. V. Mitchell), *six weeks; John Richard Humphreys (Albert M. Humphreys), two months; Desmond Allen Grissansen (self and Norris and Sampson), three months. In the case of the eighth reservist, Anthony Hall, it was stated that as he woiild be 36 years-of-age next month, it was not expected he would be mobilised.