FURTHER APPEALS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 13, 15 July 1918, Page 8

FURTHER APPEALS

BEFORE MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

The First Wellington Military Service Board (Messrs. D. ' M'Lare'n, actingchairman, Guy C. Williams, and A. O'L. Considine) sat in Wellington to-day. Qaptain Walker was military representative. , .. ■

An employer's appeal was made on behalf of Charles George Weston, newspaper sub-editor, who was a voluntary recruit. James Macintosh, chairman of directors of the Wellington Publishing Company (publishers of the Dominion newspaper), said'tlie appeal was made mainly on the ground, that the editor was absent from New Zealand on special service—having ..gone to England witli the press dolegates ; at the invitation of the Home authorities. All" that was asked was an extension of lea.ye until January, by which time the editor, Mr. C. Earle, would have returned from Great Britain. Mr. Weston had been ordered to go into camp in September. In reply to the Chairman, Mr. Macintosh said there was no one who could take Mr. Weston's place. This was the first appeal .that had been made for members of the staff. When the war broke out there were seventeen members on. the literary staff. At present there were thirteen, and of these, three were now called up, and were going into camp. Since the editor left, one of the leader-writers had been called up, and had gone into camp, another senior member of tho staff had been called up and was soon going into camp, whilst a third was in the present ballot. One of the junior reporters would be available for military service in a few weeks. The editor was expected back about the end of the 1 year.. Mr. Macintosh added that hs would not have appealed unless there had been absolute necessity—from the directors' point of view. The reservist, he added, was 39 years of age, and had two children/ The Chairman said the board would'grant an extension, of time until the December draft.

An appeal was made by Maud Edmondson for leave to be given to her brother, Leslie J. Edmondson, now on active service, to return to New Zealand to assist, in arranging certain family business affairs. Miss Edmondson stated that at present the Public Trustee was managing their business.. The object of her-mother and two sisters was to dispose of some of the property, and her brother, was a trustee. The board reserved its decision.-

: A mother's appeal was lodged on behalf of J. K. Gower, a returned soldier. The request was that a month's extension of time should be allowed. The board granted the request. , A father's and a personal appeal were made on behalf of Private Charles Harris, 40th Reinforcements. David Han-is, farmer, Pahautanui, father of the reservist, said that two sons had gone on active service, and ono had been killed. He had fifty acres oni the Horokiwi-road, Pahautanui. He had also 200 acres further back. There were 400 sheep in the back country,, and a dozen milking cows on the farm at Horokiwi. His wife and two daughters were assisting in managing the farm, owing to his ill-health. His son Charles went into camp .last year,'but had received sick leave. He had not taken steps to get anyone to take his son's place. He could not afford to employ assistance. The board reserved its decision.

Public interest and undue hardship were the reason's urged for leave until. September for Alexander S. Mitchell, engineer. . After hearing some evidence in support of' the application, the further hearingl of the case'was adjourned till November.' The hearing of the appeal of the 'Trustees of the United: Friendly Societies on behalf' of Benjamin C. O'Connor, chemist, was again called on. The secretary of the trustees attended and stated that they'had advertised all over NewZealand and had failed to secure «■ suitable man to take the reservist's place at thfe Friendly Societies' Dispensary. Captain Walker remarked ; that it appeared to him that thero was a lack of organisation in the chemists' business. In some districts there appeared to be more chemists than would be required with proper organisation. The decision of the board was reserved einedie. Mr. Robert R. Black, superintendent, Eastern Extension' Cable' Company, appealed for the exemption, of Percy John Gray, one of the senior officials in the office. The reservist was aged 41 and had one child. He was essential for the efficiency of the office. (The decision of the board was reserved sine die. Patrick Rogers, fireman, Wellington, based his appeal for exemption on the ground ,'of undue hardship. In giving evidence, he said he was the sole support of Ids widowed mother, who was in ill-health. He had also an invalid sister. The board reserved its decision till next sitting, in order to make enquiries in regard to.financial assistance for the reservist's family. • An employer's appeal was made on behalf of Herbert W. L. Drewitt, farm manager, Paraparaumu. The case had been partly heard at a previous sitting. The evidence showed that efforts ,had been made to sell the farm, hut no suitable offers had been received. The board reserved its decision till September.

Albert John Trembath, labourer, , Grant-road, Wellington, claimed exemp--tion on the' ground that he was not a reservist. He said he was a native of Australia, and had only been a little over two years in 1 New Zealand. He ■was a married man, thirty-five years of age, and had come to New Zealand for his wife's health. He intended returning to Australia. The case was adjourned till next sitting to enable appellant to be medically examined in the meantime.