MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15767, 7 December 1916, Page 2

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

SITTING IN WELLINGTON. \ (PRESS ASSOCIATION TKLXCRAM.) . WELLINGTON, December 6. The first Wellington sitting of the Military Service Board held to-day-Mr M. J. Reardon, representing the Slaughtermen's Union,, asked the Board to make a general statement as to how essential industries would be dealt with. He 6tated that he could satisfy the Board that there were not sufficient, slaughtermen in the Dominion at present to carry on the work. The chairman intimated that no statement could be made at the present stage. A conference of chairmen of Boards would be held shortly, and probably a universal policy as far as essential • industries' were concerned, would be announced. John Alexander McKay forwarded ( a birth certificate showing that he was 4S years old. Exemption was granted. William Whitefield, a marine officer employed on a troopship, was also exempted, while Tie remains in his oresent occupation. ' Considerable interest was taken in the appeals by Walter Gilbert Short, and Ernest Ebenezer Short, of Kimbolton and Feilding, respectively, and sons of the well-known Romney breeder, Mr Ernest Short. They had been called up under section 35. Walter Short, 22 years old, stated that he had already volunteered, gone into camp, and been discharged the evening before his departure for the front, because of illness. He had recently taken over a farm, which he was improving, and could not get anybody to manage it, even if he could afford it. He. had married since his discharge from camp, and had a child. He appealed on the ground of occupation and undue hardship. Counsel stated that appelant l»ad never been discharged from the forces, probably owing to faulty records, and •was and is de facto a member of the Expeditionary Forces. He was one of the first to enlist, and yet he was branded by the authorities as a "shirker," without any enguiries being made. Walter, counsel said, should never have been brought up. _ Ho-was prepared to go into camp with the next draft, and he asked Captain Walker, the military representative, to agree to drop proceedings without coming to a decision. The Board decided to hear the second appeal, that of Ernest Short, 20 years, of age. His appeal was on the ground of occupation, and undue hardship. Ernest Short stated that he had sole management of his father's farming business. His father was suffering from a decayed bone in the head, and wouldvshortly have to undergo a second operation. Appellant was the only person who could properly run his fathers special farming business during the latter's incapacity. The Board decided that the case of Walter Short should be adjourned to a date not fixed, conditional on his going into camp and reattesting. Ernest Short's appeal was adjourned sine die, so long as he remains in his present occupation. If the lot falls on him in a, future ballot, his case to come before the Board again. Francis Joseph Proctor, school teacher, and Charles Edward Proctor, draper, brothers, of Island Bay, .appealed on the grounds of undue hardship and permanent unfitness. Both cases were adjourned till to-morrow, to enable medical evidence to be called. Alfred Henry Barnett, barrister and solicitor, of Wellington, appealed on the grounds of occupation, undue hardship, and religious objections. Barnett said he would be over the military age next June. Tho chairman remarked that if appellant went into camp_ he would, be too good a physical specimen by that time to bo discharged on the ground-of age. Appellant then said he bad taken the place of a man who had gone,to* the front, his partner was in delicate health, and it was difficult to get qualified men. The Board reserved its decision for one month to allow appellant to secure someone to take his place. At the end of that period th e appeal would be disallowed. Harry B. Harrison, officer-in-charge of the wireless station, was granted exemption. R. J. Denton, appealed on behalf of Arthur Coupland Harding, engineer's apprentice, on the grounds of hardship. Harding had special knowledge necessary for the handling of an- acetone welding plant, which was often required for military work. The case was adjourned for a month to allow Harding to make a personal appeal. The Board adjourned till to-morrow. OTAGO SITTINGS. fPBKSS ASSOCIATION TELIGAAM.) DUNEDIN, December 6. The Military Service Appeal Board sat at Roxburgh. Frank Armstrong applied for four months' exemption to give him time to wind-up the estate of his late father. Appellant managed the farm. Win. Armstrong, a brother', appealed on the ground that his enlistment would be contrary to the public interest. Wm. Honner, engaged oh his mother's farm, appealed for the same reason, and John Honner appealed o*n conscientious reasons. Tho appeals of Wm. Armstrong and Wm. Honner were adjourned sine die, on condition that appellants remained in their present positions, and Frank Armstrong and John Honner were ordered to report for camp on January 4th. At a sitting at Lawrence, John and Samuel French, farmers, at Forsyth, appealed on the grounds that their enlistment would be contrary to the public interest. They had a brother at tho front, and they managed their widowed mother's farm in conjunction witli one owned jointly in both. The appeals were alldwed. Cantain Free stating that the men should not have been called up under Section 35.