AN ALIEN SUBJECT

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 46, 22 February 1917, Page 3

AN ALIEN SUBJECT

SUCCESSFUL APPEAL AGAINST MILITARY SERVICE

(BI TELEGRAPH.— I'ISESS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, 21st February. An unusual case came before the Military Service Board to-day,, when .August F. Weniger, of New Lynn, applied for exemption, on the ground that he was an engineer engaged on a mail boat, and that he was not. a naturalised British subject. The appellant stated that he was bom in London, his father having been born in France of a- French mother and a Swiss father. His mother was a Belgian, and his parents .had been in New Zealand about eleven years, and neither they nor appellant ha-d been naturalised.

To Major Conlan, appellant said that he had never been allowed to vote, and never regarded himself as a British subject. He had not attempted to become naturalised, and would probably not have bothered about making an. appeal but for the sake of his mother, who was not strong.

Appellant's mother, in reply to a suggestion by Mr. Elliot, that if on the Continent Weniger would be liable for service, said she thought not, as her son was not strong, and his father had died of consumption, which would bar a man from service in the army of Belgium, even if it was known to be in the family. Her son would be probably kept in a munition factory, or, something of the sort. ..

The board decided that, on the evidence, appellant must be considered an alien subject, and the appeal was upheld.