" ESSENTIALS"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3174, 27 August 1917, Page 6

" ESSENTIALS"

Sir,—Hero is aii example of wildest Inconsistency on tho part of tho Appeal Board, which sat last week.

Case I.—A number of farmers, with first-hand knowledge of the country's requirements in the way of farm labour, appealed for exemption from military scrvicc of a shearer, and evidence is not wanting of the shortage of shearers, and that the industry is classed "most essential." To this man's credit, let it be known, that ho was not appealing himself. It was a genuine employers' appeal. The man was an expert shearer, but the board decided ho must go to the front.

The second case was that of an instructor from the Amokura, a training ship maintained by the country at the expense of the taxpayers, and costing many thousands of pounds annually. This costly little institution could be dispensed with, as a whole, without loss to the country. Did any one, qualified to judge as to the essentiality of this man, or his occupation, give evidence in support of his appeal?—Emphatically~"No." Still the board granted his application, and he will be spared from serving' side by side with the l>oys from the Amokura who aro serving in tlie Forces.

My own experience was that my boy, who is now with the troops in France, wasted the time served on the Amokura before going to learn his trade. He cn-

listed at nineteen ye®rs of age. and f may be pardoned lor leeling proud of him, but I wish to point out that I liave nothing to thank the Amokura for. His subsequent joining up with tho collours, was in no way conn-scted with, his training (?) on the Amokuru.i—l am, etc,, LSi'EiYi'lAL.