MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 16351, 17 February 1917, Page 3

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

t PUBLIC TRUST EMPLOYEES,

At a sittincr oi the Miiitarv iS-ervico ■Rnavd at Wellington yesterday tho Public Trustee lodged appeals asking three months’ leave for seven clerks in his office. .-Ml had enlisted except one, who was a ballot man.

Hr Fitcheit (Public Trustee) said tho Government had thrown on the Public Trust Uthue an enormous amount of work on account of the war. The bulk of'the work was unromunoralive, but the office was gladly undertaking it ns a duty. In the case of soldiers, for instance, an official of the staff went out, one day every week for the purpose of assisting, free of charge, in making soldiers’ wills. The office had handled the wills of 5,009 soldiers, and, in addition. 2,000 estates of soldiers were being administered. The Government had also thrown on the office the administration of over 100 enemy estates, and the services of the office had also been given to the Defence Department for tho purpose of making inquiries. After discussion an extension of time was granted as asked, but at tho end of three months tho cases will be reviewed. SEAMEN’S APPEALS.

Some remarks passed between Mr IV. T ; Young (secretary of the Seamen’s L nion) and Captain Baldwin (military representative) which showed decided differences of opinion in regard to matters connected with the Military Service Act-.

iii-e dispute arose over an appeal for exemption of an able seaman engaged on a transport. .Captain Baldwin said a- man who left the country in such circumstances was a deserter.

.Mr Y'oung disputed that, and said “a man is a tree agent till his appeal is determined.”

Captain Baldwin said ho did not think -Mr loung's reading of the Act was correct, and rclcrred to section 27, which reads : “ The pendency of any such appeal shall in no way suspend the obligation of military service and obedience imposed on the appellant by this Act save so far as any such suspension may be expressly allowed to the appellant by the Minister ot Defence or hy a Military Her vice Board.'’

Ca plain Baldwin asked Mr Me ana to bring him ji complete list of the men in hi? union, showing as far as possible the mini hers of men engaged on the Union Coin[ any t> services, and also other services that- drew men from the union. Mr Young: “With all deference. 1 don't feel disposed to do that."

Captain Baldwin: “All right. Wo will tee what the position is at. another time ” -Mr Young; “1 told you that, roughly speakmg, there were about 4.C00 men on our book?.. but I don t think you are entitled to know their names.’* Captain .Baldwin : “ I don’t want to know their name?. I want the numbers.*' Captain Baldwin saul ho would subpoena Mi \oung to bruia the evidence so far a* he had it.

Mr \ onng; “I may say it, is already '‘l evidence no to tno number of men on our hooks in Xou- Zealand. Captain B.ald'nn says he does not want names. Might I ask what ho really docs want ” Captain Baldwin; “I want some verification of tiie numbers and what occupations the men are following at present.'’, Mr 1 oung : ‘‘lt is impossible to give that.” b

Captain Baldwin; “Moll, at any rate tve can wait till you get jty