RELEASES FROM ARMY

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23803, 24 November 1942, Page 6

RELEASES FROM ARMY

Sir,—According to reports in the city it appears possible, if one knows how, to by-pass the Armed Forces Appeal Board and get men out of camp, even aftfij an appeal has been dismissed. One case I heard of in which an appeal was disallowed, the employer lost an essential worker to the Army. Later this worker was discovered working for an opposition firm, and released from the Army. By what method are such releases obtained? I enclose names for a personal check by your reporters. Another case (names enclosed) is of a man who was called up, entered camp, and his firm did not appeal, but suffered the loss. Now this man is reported to be out of the Army and working for an opposition concern. Here again, how is it done? And this leads one to ask; Why have an Armed Forces Appeal Board when someone appears to be able to override its decisions?— Yours,' etc., OBSERVER. November 20, 1942. [The secretary of the Manpower Committee said yesterday that provision had been made for tradesmen to be released from the Army or have their service postponed for a given period to enable their employers to complete defence contracts. The arrangements were made by a liaison officer of the Public Works Department, who approached the Army. The cases mentioned by "Observer" were probably dealt with under the arrangement which was no longer in force as the contracts had been completed.]