MILITARY APPEAL BODIES

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 76, 27 September 1916, Page 6

MILITARY APPEAL BODIES

With the personnel of the new Military Service Boards, which are to hear appeals under the compulsory clauses of last session's Act, no apparent fault can be found. Four capable Magistrates preside, and they will confer to secure uniformity among the four Boards in the matter of decisions, which English experience proves to be a point of first importance. Each of them, on his own Board, will have the assistance of two civilians who are not class representatives, but whose class or sphere of life may nevisrtheless strengthen public confidence in the capacity of the tribunals. For instance, of the eight civilian members, half are farmers and tho Other half appear to follow city pur- ] suits. They are not there to represent either town or country, but the distinctive interests of town and of country will be conscious that the appeal tribunal is not unversed in knowledge of either. In the same way, the presence of two Labour men and four farmers is not class representation, but the circumstance that these national representatives belong to two leading classes should be an incidental source of judicial and administrative strength. Irreconcilable opponents of military compulsion were, quite rightly, not eligible, and the Government was. wise in avoiding the appoiutmont of holders of political positions, or of men of military age or with eligible sons. Both the system of selection, and its results, appear to be quite satisfactory.