CASES OF HARDSHIP

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3067, 1 May 1917, Page 8

CASES OF HARDSHIP

FARMERS' APPEALS MEN REJECTED AND LATER ACCEPTED. At .yesterday's sitting of tho Second Wellington Military Service Board, Ward Richard Pe-arco, farmer, Horokiwi Vnlloy, Pnhautamii, appealed on tlio ground of linduo hardsliip. Mr. Luckio, who appeared for tho appellant, said that tho case prcsontcd spcciahfeattires of hardship. Pearce.had enlisted voluntarily in 1916, and had gone into camp. Ho sulFercd from a. weak ankle, which was liable to slip undor a strain, and the military authorities had soon discharged him with a certificate of permanent unfitness. On the strength of that certificate, ho married in September last, and undertook heavy financial responsibilities in connection with a. farm. But now a medical board had passed him as fit, and ho was required to enljr' camp again, tinder conditions that would involve him in financial ruin.

Tho appellant said t'bat ho wss quitewilling to serve- if he was fit. 1 But tho weakness that had caused him to be classified as permanently unfit in I!HG remained with him, and ho felt, that lib was likely to bo discharged again after losing very heavily through leaving his farm. Ho produced the certificate given him by tho camp authorities. Ho had asked for a reexamination by tho medical board, but had iieen refused. The c!iainflan_of tho board said /hat the hardship of tho caso was obvious, i'iin board would arrango for an examination by auotiwr medical board with a viow to ascertaining definitely whether or .not tho apjjellant was fit. Private G. H. Ferguson, C Company, Twenty-seventh Reinforcements, asked for an extension of his final leave, iu order that ho might attend to privato business. Ho stated that ho was an only son,' and his father was seventy years of age. Ho and his father farmed two blocks of land in South Wostland, 1000 acres in all, and no help could bo secured. He had boon taken into camp without time to arrange tho farm affairs, whtuh were .now iu a chaotic condition. Tho chairman said that appellant had a strong claim for consideration. His farm lay in back-block country, and it would bo almost impossiblo to replace him there. Tho board would grant leave until Juno/28. Appellant said that ho did not wish to break into his training period. Ho thought his draft would get its final leavo about tho middle of May, and ho would like an extension of that leave. Tho ;board decided to recommend the extension of tho final leavo for ono month.