MEN FOR THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3101, 4 June 1917, Page 8

MEN FOR THE WAR

PUBLIC TRUST APPEALS

AND OTHER CASES

Tho First Wellington Military Service Hoard sat in "Wellington ou Saturday. The chairman of the board is Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., and the other members aro Messrs. D. M'Laren and "W. Perry. Captain Walker is the military .represent'itive.

The Public Trustee, for whom Mr. J. W. Mac Donald appeared, asked for temporary exemption for the following clerks who are in tho service of the Public Trust Department'.—William Robert Millie., George Miller, "Walter H. Pearce, Thomas John Dwyer, Peter A. Devereux, and Arthur William AVatters.

Mr. Mac Donald said that these men could not at present bo spared from the service. The staff had been reduced of late through men going into camp, and the position was more serious now than at any previous stage. The profits of the office last year were greater than ever, which indicated that the volume of vork had increased. Last year's profits were .£59,000, -£15,000 more than in the year previous. There wero now over Sl'ilO" soldiers' estates in the office. Mr. MacDonald suggested that the men should be exempted till the First Division was exhausted, and that their cases should be then reviewed. He remarked rhat the enlistments from the oftico, were, probably, proportionately heavier than in any other branch of the public service. A very Mnall number of the staff was over military age.

ilv. Perry: flow many girls have you oo 'the staff? Mr. Mac Donald: One hundred and three. They do typing and routine work. [n reply to Captain Walker, llr. MacDonald said that the Defence Department could not have things both ways— they could not thrust all the extra work they had done on to the office and also have the men. Captain "Walker commented adversely on the conditions of relief employment in the Public Trust Oflice. He said 'the employees had to sign an undertaking that tueir engagement would not lead to a permanency; they could be turned out at a day's notice. He had seen tie conditions and had been astonished by them. How could a capable man be ejected to take on war work for'the Public Trust. Office when he conld be turned avay at a day'# notice? He knew of.an excellent man who had had to decline a temporary position in the office because the conditions were so rigorous O-it he cculd not risk moving his wife and family on •the off-chance of being retained for a reasonable time.

Mr. Mac Donald said the Public Trustee hnd endeavoured unsuccessfully to have the conditions made less rigorous.

Captaiu Walker said lie would ask llie board to express the opinion that the conditions were unsatisfactory. If the office ivaa bound by these conditions they could not be blamed for appealing for their mcii; but the conditions were absurd. and whoever was responsible for them • whs io blame.' The board reserved its decision. Horse-Owner and Trainer. Tiie ease of Arthur .Douglas Webster, horse-owner and trainer, Otaki, adjourned from March 2, was concluded. Webster said that ho had sold one of his racehorses, but he desired a two months' postponement of his appeal. His wife was not in good health, and he produced a certificate to that 'effect. The appeal was dismissed, and Webster is to go into camp 011 June 27.

Struthcrs King, draper, Hataitai, withdrew his appeal. A r . E. .Tacobsou, coal dealer and carrier, Petone; appealed 011 the ground of undue hardship, and decision was reserved. Tho appeal <-f Alfred Cecil Curtis, dairy farmer, .lohnsonville, was adjourned for the appellant to be medically examined.

An apeapl by Patrick Joseph Hopkins, clerk, was withdrawn. George Archibald Jamiepon, grocer''! assistant, asked that ho should not bo sent into camp in tlio winter because he suffered from rheumatism. The board wns unanimously of the opinion that the appellant had better go into camp this month, and'that the cold weather would test his atoilily to ensure camp life: That would be better than experiencing his first winter in Fraucc.

Ail employer's appeal was made for William Hammond Lee. shoe-machinist. Public interest was stated as tho ground of appeal. The case was partly heard, and then adjourned till Tuesday.