MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 16348, 14 February 1917, Page 4

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

SITTING AT DUNEDIN.

The First Otago Military Service Board —Mr H. Y. Widdort-son, S.M., Mr A. D. Bell, and Mr E. Kellett—sat at Dimedin this forenoon to hear several adjourned appeals and to deal with a- further l ; st of fixssh. appeals. —A Clergyman Exempted.—

The adjourned appeal of A. C. H. Button, clergyman, Lumsden, for whom tho Anglican Bishop appealed, was called. The Chairman "said this was a ca-so in which it was stated that the Minister of Defence had given an exemption certificate, but that it had. not come to hand. Tho certificate had been received, and the board would grant conditional exemption. —Seamen's Appeals.—

The appeals of Joseph Thomas Crawley, Percy Harris, and John Shanahan, seamen, which had been adjourned for submission of evidence- as to their present employment at sea. were further adjourned till the afternoon, the deling secretary of the union not being in a position to give definite information. Tho Chairman said it would bo necessary to supply such, information.

—Other Cases.—

The adjourned appeal of Ernest Sa-ins-hury, of Upper Junction, dairy farmer (previously adjourned to enable appellant to arranga affairs), was dismissed, the appellant not to bo called up till April 1. Tho appeal of John Alexander 'Sparrow and an employer's appeal by Joseph Sparrow, for whom Mr Stephens appeared, were withdrawn, it having been stated by Captain Free that appellant had. ' been classed in C2 (homo serivce). Mr Stephens said that, in withdrawing the appeals, lie was relying on the Ministers statement as to the position of C2 men. The appeal of James Arthur Adams, of Dunedin (Mr llav), was also withdrawn, appellant having been classed m C2. Alfred Urmscm Birehall, of Maungatua. farmer, appealed on the ground of "undue hardship, but said no was quite willing to go. lie desired exemption till April in trder to ret the harvest in.—Captain Free submitted that once a harvest was in stack it was in no danger.' He contended that there would be no- undue hardship.— Appeal dismissed, appellant (passed as fit) not to be called up till April 1. James Davidson, of Mosgiel, for whom Mr Allen appeared, submitted proof that he was over military age.—Appeal allowed '

Jeremiah G-ear and James Hemy Xicho'£ou Gear, of Dunedin, appealed", on the, grounds of undue hardslup.—Gap la in Free said that both men had been passed fit.— Evidence was given as to family affairs, particularly respecting the ownership of a house.—The board were of opinion that both should go. Both appeals were, dismissed, but in tho ease of Jeremiah he was not to be called up till April 1.

—Waterside Workers.—

Francis Harkness, of Sawyers Bay, waterside worker, appealed, on the ground of public interest.. The Chairman -. 1 understand that far too many men are. engaged on transport work—about 50 per cent, more than was required. Captain Free said lie understood tl'.at that was so. He was making inquiries as to tho needs of the transport service.

The Chairman : The board wili require particularly to kno»v what number is absolutely essential to cam- on the work.

Captain Free said be had no instructions as to tho ease. Appellant's name, did not appear on the list of names submitted to him as those of men specially engaged on transport work. The Chairman pointed out that there was no appeal from the appellant's employers. This appeal should be dismissed. Appellant said ha had not approached Ins employers on tho subject. Captain Free suggested that the caio stand over till the afternoon.

Th.e board adjourned for lunch. —The Transport Service.—

Stevenson ;ui<l Cook, of Port Chalmers, appealed on behalf of Kenneth M'Kay, blacksmith, John Campbell, moulder, 11. Dale, engineer, George Way, boilermaker, and Alfred Simmor.ds. patternmaker. Mr Lightbonrne. secretary of the company, said, in reply to a question by the chairman, that the firm had had some, difficulty in obtaining forms for lodging employers' appeals. Captain Free said he had communicated with the directors of the transport service seeking certain information; but as the directors were at present in Wellington the information had not been obtained. He would therefore suggest that the appeals be adjourned till the next sitting of the board".

Mr Lightbonrne intimated that he. desired to withdraw the appeal in respect of Alfred Simmonds, who was determined to go to the front, and would have gone sooner but for the fa<'f that he. as a member of the Permanent Defence Staff at the Heads, had not been allowed to go. This appeal was withdrawn, and the others adjourned till the next sitting of the. board at Dunedin. —A Grain Merchant.—

James. Hutchison Fot.heringham, of St. Clair, grain merchant, for whom Mr Adams appeared, appealed on the ground of undue hardship in that he war. required to manage his father's business A declaration was submitted by appellant's father stating that he wap unable, to manago the business, which wa.s his sole meuil< of support.—-Appellant said ho had a brother lighting in France, and another, who was married, in the grafn business at Oanuiru.—Captain Free said appellant wa.s in Class A.—Appellant, in reply to questions, said his brother in Oamaru could not carry on his father's business, as he had not the. experience. Appellant had enlisted some time ago. but withdrew when it was found the brother could not manage the business. His father exercised ■ financial control of the business. If he (appellant) went the business would have to close down. They had tried hard to secure a substitute. The. Chairman said the, -board were not satisfied that the business would have to be closed if appellant went to the \rar. They proposed to adjourn the tase for two months. In thy mcantiir.o. the appellant would have seriously to consider the question of the management- of the business, which wae really not essential. —Unusual, But Xot Undue Hardship.— Further evidence, was given in tin* appeal of William Sydney Stewart, of Dunedin, warehouseman, tor whom Mr Dawson appeared.—-Dr Kvans gave evidence in camera as to the health of appellant's sksler.

The Chairman said this case was unusual, and the sympathy of the board individually was fdven to the members of appellant's family. It was a, however, as to whether it was a enso of undue hardship. As had been said repeatedly, what would undoubtedly be a. hardship in peace time mi.uht not ho a hardship in war time. The hoard were, inclined to think that it was not a case of undue_ hardship. M the samo time £omo consideration .should be given to the ease, in view ol the health, of appellant's sitter. The board proposed not tn deal with the appeal that day.—Appeal was adjourned till tho .March" silting of the board.

—Home Service Men.—

The appeals of Arthur Hindlev Cook. Ralph Ford, and William Dugpan, aii classed as homo service men, were withdrawn.

The appeals of Thomas Fiaser and Frederick James, of Middlemareh i.\k Nichol). were • similar, each seekinc a month to arrange affairs.—Appellants" not to be called up till April 1. Tho appeal of .Samuel Henry Haines (Roslyn), who is now in camp, was struck out.

John Maxwell, jun.. of Waikonniti, farmer (.Mr Arkle>, appealed on undue hardship. Appellant said he was employed on his father's farm of 268 acres. There were 22 cows milking. ITe had two brothers in the Expeditionary Forces, and one, who joined the main body, had been wounded. The farm could not be carried on very well without appellant-.—Evidence was given by appellant's father, who said he thought his family, in giving two out of three, had done very well. SSui'e-lv he

•would be left with one boy to cany on.— Case adjourned for two months to enahla appellant to make arrangements.

BISHOP OF WELLINGTON'S APPEAL,

[Per United Pkuss Association.]'

WELLINGTON, February 14. / flie Bishop of Wellington appealed to the Military Service Board for the exemption of two clergymen who were called up v m the ballot. He said it was practically impossible, to supply tho places of the clergy, who would go if reasonable sources- of supply could be found. Tho board decided to adjourn the appeals sine die, exemption from military Ken-ice to bo granted meantime, the cases to be reviewed again before the First Division is exhausted. Tho board expressed the opinion that the First Division should be exhausted before married men are called up.