APPEAL BOARDS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23812, 4 December 1942, Page 7

APPEAL BOARDS

CHANGES ADVOCATED BY R.S.A.

Changes in personnel of Armed Forces Appeal Boards and tightening up of procedure in the hearing of appeals were strongly supported by the executive of the South Canterbury Returned Services’ Association, followin ; a Canterbury conference of representatives of the associations in the province. It is urged that at lesst one member of the Returned Services' Association should be a member of every Armed Forces Appeal Board: that no written statements be accepted as evidence without the personal appearance of witness to testify on oath; that evidence placed before appeal boards by primary production committees should be presented, not in writing, as at present. but by a representative of the committee concerned, and thus be open to cross-examination.

Public notice of the dates of hearing of appeals is suggested, with at least seven days’ notice of the days and time of hearing of appeals, together with and occupations of appellants. Other resolutions endorsed dealt with: (a) The sending of married men overseas until steps are taken to see that every available single man is in the forces: ib) the recommendation that young men between the ages of 18 an'd 21 should: unless a national emergency arises, be demobilised for approximately six months of the year, so that they could continue with their civil occupations and thus assist the manpower problem without interfering with their military training. While out of camp they should train with the Home Guard; (c) that men who served in the 1914-18 War should not be called in the ballot, and that these men now mobilised be released if they so desire.