UNWILLING RECRUITS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3085, 16 May 1917, Page 6

UNWILLING RECRUITS

HEARING OF APPEALS

THIRD MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

The Third Wellington Military Service Board, consisting of Mr. W. H. Sefton Moorhouso (chairman), Mr. A. O'L. Considine, and Mr. M. J. Mack, continued its sittings in 'Wellington yesterday, and considered a iong list of. appeals. James Harper, compositor, ot Weblington, was represented by Mr. D. M. Findlay, who stated that the appellant was employed by a morning newspaper, and was actingrsecrctary of Hie Typographical Union, the secretary being fn hospital. Harper had three brothers at the front and one in camp, and it was claimed that his enlistment con-, stituted a hardship. The board reserved ils decision. The Wellington City Council appealed on behalf of Arthur Joseph Giddens second electrician in the Tramways Department. The City Engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton) said that the staff had been seriously depleted by enlistment alreadv. and much additional work was required of the remaining men. Tho Department would be. left in a dangerous position if Giddens were taken, since it would be impossible ai short notice to find an experienced man to take his place. He asked that the appellant should bo exempted for thiec months. Tho board adourned the casu for three months accordingly. An employer's, appeal was made on behalf of Herborfc Smith, employed by the Equity Boot Company. It was stated that Smith was in charge- of certain machines, whioh had been used for military work. The trade was feeling a serious shortage of skilled operatives, and Smith could not be replaced The board granted leave until June "27. tho company to find a substitute for Smith in tho meantime. Two months' extension of leave was granted in the. case of Alfred E. Smith, assistant secretary of the Y.M.C.A., Wellington. The appeal was made by the association, which represented that Smith was performing important work that was of considerable assistance to the. military authorities. The board reserved its decision in the case of Sydney Arthur Parker, clerk, Newtown (Mr. Blair). The ground of appeal was that Parker was preparing to sit for an examination, and had nearly completed a course of study.

Charles Grant Watt, jeweller, Manners Street. Wellington (Mr. Blair), was granted' suspension for two months in order that he might have an opportunity of disposing-of his business, it was 'represented that his immediate enlistment would involve him in substantial loss, since it would be impossible for him to leave the business in other hands during his absence. An appeal made by James Roderick Clements, computer and draughtsman, of Wellington,' was adjourned sine die, for reviow before the JjTrst Division was exhausted. -The evidence showed that immediate enlistment would involve serious hardship owing to appellant's domestic circumstances.

Edward William Paterson, engineer's apprentice, appealed on the ground ot undue hardship. He stated that ho had lost a brother at Gallipoli, and was his parents' only surviving son of military age. His employers, Messrs. Robertson and Co., also appealed, rnd represented that there was a serious shortago of trained workers in tho ergiaeoring trade. Most of tho firm's apprentices had enlisted, 'flic board adjourned tho caso for three months. Alfred-William Harding, Wellington, appealed on tho ground of undue hardship and publio interest. Ho was n waterside worker, married, 110 claimed that his occupation was essential and that his wife required his support. Ho had volunteered for the motor-boat patrol, but had been rejected as being connected with shipping. The case presented special features of hardship, and tho hoard adjourned it sine dio, to bo reviewed before tho Second Division was called up.

Leonard J. H. Sclirader, coac'tibuilder, Wellington, stated lie had already been informed liy tho military authorities that his father was an unnaturalised German. His mother had been English.. He had volunteered six times, hut had always bee.n rejected on tho ground of his parentage. He had been told to "got out of >t."- Then lie had applied in writing to liavo his name taken out of tho ballot, but had received no reply. He was born in New Zealand. Tho board adjourned the case for inquiry. Alexander Rcid, plumber, of Wellington, made- an appeal which was supported by his employer. it was , stated that plumbers were very scarce in Wellington, and tho services of Reid were required for the completion of an important contract. The work would take five months. Tho supply of qualified plumbers was not sufficient for tho needs v of tho city. The board adjourned the case for a month, pending inquiries regarding the condition of" tho plumbing trade, and directed that an effort should bo made to find a substitute for Reid. Albert James Barlow, military badgemaker, Petone, 'appealed on tho ground of undue hardship. Mr. Bunny, who appeared on behalf of Barlow, stilted that appellant was the only son ot a widow, who was in poor health, r.nd. who would havo to dispose of_ her business as a furniture dealer if she lost the assistance of her son. Barlow himself had recently married. He was foreman in a shop engaged in the manufacture of military badges. The maximum amount of girl labour was already used in the shop, and the foreman's services were essential. His employer was in ill-health, and was about to •undergo an oporation. A returned soldier was being trained as a possible substitute for Barlow. The board adjourned the case for two months. James M'Kenzie, trades union secretary, did not appear in support of an appeal, which accordingly was disGeorge Campbell, flaxmill worker. Island Bay, appealed on the ground of religious objection. He said that he belonged to tho National Bible School Association, and held convicoions "contrary to military service." He bad been a member of the association for about three years. The body had its head office in America. Campbell told the chairman of the board that be would do non-combatant work if convinced that it was not contrary to the I will of God. He produced a document t purporting to show that peace among j men and "non-resistance" were tenets of his order. In answer to questions, appellant said that if an enemy invaded New Zealand, murdered children ai.-S violated women, he would _ "use. no weapons against them other than those of the Master." - ' The chairman: lou have not wis power of withering fig trees. The board dismissed the appeal. Thomas Frederick Mallett, electrician's engineer, Wellington, slated that ho had a wife, who was in ill-health, and a child. Three of his brothers were at the front. A fifth brother was in the Second Division. His parents lived in Westport, and he gave them snne assistance occasionally. He bad married in May of last year. The board adjourned the case for two months, the chairman remarking that appellant's family had done well already. George David, hawker, of Wellington, stated that his father was a native of Palestine. He himself had been born in New Zealand. Appellant was a typical Syrian in appearance. The board adjourned tho case sine die, and

told David that he would be sent fail' wanted again. Mr. P. J. U'Regan appeared on cohalf of Walter 11. J. Haiti, bushfeller, ot Maymorn, who asked tor an extension, ot exemption already granted. .Appellant's mother was a widow, vhase only other son was already at die front. Appellant allowed her about Ms. a week. His mother lived in Auckland, and llio son had been working at Aiaymorn. lie proposed now to go to Auckland, as his mother was alone owing to the departure of the other brother. Tho board adjourned the case sine die, provided that appellant Jived with and looked after his mother in the meantime. - ' Morgan Christopher O'Flaherty ot Te Aro, stated that he had already teen in camp as a volunteer, and had been discharged medically unfit on account of rheumatism. He had a brother m the forces. He had not been medically examined since his discharge, and the board directed him to go before a, Medical Board.

Sergeant D. H. Hcaton, H Company, 2Gth Reinforcements, wrote stating that he had been in cam]) as a volunteer before his name appeared in a ballot list.' He withdrew his appeal, which he had lodged with the object of showing that he was a voluntary recmit. Tire board placed the fact on record.. . Other appeals were struck out, ti-e reserrists concerned having ueen declared unfit for active service." The hoard adjourned until to-morrow morning.