TO SERVE IN ARMY

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 270, 13 August 1942, Page 8

TO SERVE IN ARMY

Home Guardsman Accused Of Insubordination Dominion Special Service. HASTINGS, August 12. Asserting that, because of reservist’s insubordinate conduct and his refusal to comply with tlte conditions of enrolment in the Home Guard, he considered pursuit of the appeal impossible, Mr. 11. Gardner, manager of the Tarawera Timber Company, informed .the No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board, in Napier, that he wished his company dissociated from an application for the retention of an employee, Richard.Scddon Alexander, for whose exemption from military service the Director of National Service had made representations. , “This man,” said Mr. Gardner, “joined the Home Guard in accordance with the board's direction at a previous henring, but has attended only once, and on this occasion deliberately set himself out not to obey orders given by the Home Guard instructors. He was warned again within the last week by registered letter from Captain Shaw, commander of the company, to attend. He attended under the influence of liquor and left after about 15 minutes and has not appeared since.” , „ Witness stated that another local Home Guard officer had expressed the view that Alexander was “impossible” as a member of the guard, and that his behaviour had detrimentally influenced the remainder of the unit’s complement. “In the circumstances,” he concluded, "we feel that this man should be made an example of, and I recommend that he should be called up in the Armed Forces, where he would be made to realize his obligations.” At this juncture- the secretary, Mr. J. Corhishley. informed the board that after receiving Mr. Gardner’s written statement before the proceedings he had issued a subpoena to reservist so that he would have the opportunity to give evidence in denial or admission of the allegations set out. By failing to appear Alexander had made himself liable to prosecution. ’ In accepting Mr. Gardners voluntary withdrawal of the appeal the chairman, Mr. 11. B. Lusk, expressed appreciation of the company’s • investigations into reservist’s conduct and added that the facts to which witness hnd testified had guided the board to its only possible decision, the release of Alexander forthwith for military service where he would receive appropriate discipline.