MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 16515, 29 August 1917, Page 4

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

SITTING AT DUNEDIN. The First Otago Military- Service Board —Messrs Widdowaon, S.M. (chairman), Kellett, and Bell —sat at Dunedin tliis morniug to hear some 40 appeals from the ballot. The big majority of the cases were those of men wiiose appeals had been heard previously and adjourned fdne die. Captain Free was military representative" James Wilson (Mr Scurr) appealed on behalf of William Warden Wilson, sanitary plumber, on the ground of undue hardship. Appellant was unable to do all the work required, owing to an injured arm. Hie other two sons were already away at the front.—The Chairman said there were special circumstances in this case. The business provided a living for the' father, mother, sister, and the present Reservist. The board had been advised that if the Reservist had to go the business would have to he closed. The appeal would be adjourned sine die, to come up for revision when Class A of the Second Division was called up. James Edward Mee, fireman, -withdrew his personal appeal. Thomas Keyes, letter-carrier, appealed on the ground of undue hardship.—-The appeal was adjourned for further consideration in October, the Chairman remarking that there were special circumstances in regard to family matters. The family had done remarkably well in regard to recruiting. The appeal of William Vincent, Keyes, railway porter, was withdrawn, his brother stating that this Reservist had been drawn in tho, first railway ballot, and liad been waiting for three months to go into camp. An application was before the board from the Commandant for the rehearing of the appeals of Dr Ferguson on behalf of Cyril Arnold King and Eric Howard Mauley Luke, third-year medical students. — Captain Free suggested that the bdard had no jurisdiction in this matter, as an appeal could only be reheard if new and material evidence were forthcoming. In this case he contended that there was no fresh evidence—it was only a case of the Cabinet changing their minds.—The Chairman said that the case was bristling with .difficulties. If the Reservists were granted leave —say for six months—they might be wanted before then.—Captain Free pointed out that leave could always be cancelled ; it was not granted as a right but as an act of grace.—The Chairman said tho board thought these cases should be placed on the same footing as others.—The appeals, were adjourned sine die. Charles Frizzell Ivory, orchard and estate manager, withdrew his personal appeal.—There were two employers' appeals onjaehalf of this Reservist—that by Ivories Nurseries (Mr Solomon) and by the Otago Central Fruitlands Company (Mr Tonkinson), who asked for an extension of time till January.—The Chairman said that the Efficiency Board had recommended an extension till November. —Mr Solomon said that the company had widely advertised for a man, but without success. The work required an expert.—Eardley Reynolds, chairman of directors of the Ivories Nurseries, gave evidence as to the difficulties of irrigation on these ©states, and expressed the opinion that it would be absolutely necessary for the carrying out of the work that Ivory should be left till January.— Mr Solomon suggested that a compromise might be made, and the Reservist allowed till December.—The Chairman said that this was what the board had in mind.— Appeal dismissed, Reservist not to be called up before the December draft. The appeal by John Coutts, Port Chalmers, on bshalf of Fredk. Symonds was adjourned till the position of transport workers had been determined, Captain Free remarking that the department were still " waiting for light." The appeal of H. C. Campbell on behalf of Andrew Kernohan M'Farlane,. Customshouse agent, was dismissed, there being no appearance. Arthur Mills, packer, withdrew his appeal on the ground of undue hardship, the necessity for this having disappeared. The second ground—that of conscientious objection—remained valid.—Tho Chairman pointed out that the military aspect of these cases had altered, and Reservists having conscientious objections could be put to agricultural or other work.—Appellant expressed his willingness to do anything but take up arms. He did not belong to any religious body, but had been identified with tho Brethren for a number of years. In reply to the chairman, appellant said he could answer the necessary question under the Act in the affirmative, owing to his identification with the Brethren, though he did not wish to identify them as a sect. —Appeal dismissed, with the recommendation that the reservist be placed in noncombatant service.

The appeal of Harry Mncdonald, farmer (Mr Scurr), was adjourned to enable appellant to bo medically re-examined. Cedric Stanton Hicks, medical student, withdrew his appeal by letter.—The Chairman said that he was not satisfied.—Captain Free stated that he had made inquiries in this case, and found that Dr Valintine had appealed on behalf of this Reservist b.efore the No. 3 Wellington Board, and the appeal had been adjourned sine die. ITuw Dr Valintine had-come to appeal as employer in this case ha did not know.—The Chairman : Hioks is not employed in Wellington; if he is employed anywhere, ho is employed hero. This board is the only one competent to hear the appeal.—Captain Free said he was bringing the matter before the authorities, and the case was adjourned for further particulars to be obtained.

George Macdonald, second officer on a troopship, was granted conditional exemption.

David Arthur Carnegie, builder (Mr Scurr), appeal on grounds of undue hardship.—Since the first hearing of tho appeal one of appellant's brothers had returned from the front wounded,-and was doing light work. Another brother had been killed, while a third was still in France.—The Chairman remarked that tho record of the family was one to be admired. AVhilo this was so. the board could not possibly hold that it was a case of undue hardship. To mark their sense of what had been done they would grant as long a time as possible. The appeal would be dismissed, Reservist not to be called up before the November draft.

The appeals of James Dominick Turley (Boilermaker), Richard Pyno (carpenter) and Oliver Craig (railway porter) were adjourned sine die, to be further considered when result of employers' appeals came to hand. The appeal of Daniel Jas. Gilchrist was formally dismissed, the reservist having voluntarily gone into camp in the meantime.

Richard Isaac Ooory, rough-stuff preparer (Mr Hanlon), appealed on tho ground of undue hardship. There wan also am -appeal by Ross and Glendining, as employers,—Captain Free contended that the personal appeal could not be dealt with, it having been lodged too late.—Appellant said that when his employers told him they had appealed for him he did not think it necessary to put in a personal appeal.—Mr Hanlon argued the legal aspect of the case in regard to tho lateness of the lodging of _ the appeal. —The Chairman said that this Was different to the ordinary case of a member of the British race appealing. The point of law would be reserved, and the board would hear the 'facts.—Mr Hanlon said that the appellant considered that the fact of Syrians fighting for the Allies, on becoming known in Turkey, would lead to a massacre of the Syrians in Lebanon, where relatives of the appellant were now resident. There was a grave danger of this being done, added counsel, for the Turks were capable of anything. The Syrians were a 3oval people,'and strongly favored the Allies'" cause; indeed, he believed they prayed each day for the success of our cause. He thought that their misgivings in the direction indicated should be respected.—Tho Chairman: Do you not recognise that the ground of appeal is a matter of military policy, and nothing to do with tho boai'd?—Mr Hanlon: I will go further than that, sir, and say it is a matter ' of international moment.-—The Chairman: But nothing to do with the board.—Mr Hanlon : The hoard will understand that these people are very earnest in the matter, and"it is my duty to place their views before you.—The Chairman expressed the opinion that the appellant, although a British subject, was also a member of an enemy nation.—Captain Free contended that Syrians were only technically Turkish subjects, and* the same circumstances would not apply as in the

case of a naturalised German. The fact of the reservist being of Syrian parentage would be reported, and he would probably be placed on army service work.—The appeal was dismissed, but with the added recommendation that serious consideration should bo given to the fact that the reservist was a Syrian, and that,' as a question of policy, if might bo considered whether it would be wise to send a member of that race to the front. Lionel .Alexander M'Kenzie, school teacher. Port Chalmers, appealed on the ground of undue hardship.—Adjourned sine die. The Union Steam Ship Company appealed on behalf of Harold James Bagloy, electrician.—The appeal was adjourned sine die, the company to take steps to replace the man as soon as possible. Cecil Frederick Bennett, cordial manufacturer (Mr Scurr), appealed on the ground of undue hardship.—Appellant said that the manufacturing depended solely upon him.—Adjourned sine die. * The appeal of Andrew Garden Reid, farmer, was adjourned for two months, he having been classed 82, and due for medical re-examination within* that period. The following appeals were either withdrawn or formally disinissed, the appellants having been classed C2: —Hugh Eraser, dairy farmer; John Wm. Sheppard, dairy farmer j Harold Itandforth, bootmaker. * Jojnes Pickford Mimes appealed on behalf of Edward Soluiack, baker, who, he said, was absolutely essential to his business., —Mr Haymes, secretary <pf tlie Bakers' Union, said that there was a shortage of labor in that branch.—Adjourned till December si-feting of the board. Samuel M'lntosh, waterside worker, appealed on tlie ground of undue hardship.— Captain Free said tliat the appellant had been given notice to attend for medical re-examination, but had failed to attend, and pointed out that a reservist disobeying orders was liable to arrest.—Appellant explained that* ho thought his appeal had to be disposed of first.—Adjourned for medical re-examination.

James Reid, farmer (Mr Allen), appealed on the ground of undue harshjp.— Appellant said he supported his widowed mother, sister, and wife by his work on the farm.—Adjourned sine die, tlT§ Chairman pointing out that it was possible that the matter "would come up for review at the extreme end of the First Division or during the first class of the Second Division.

Patrick M'Donald, farmer (Mr Irwin), Appealed on the ground of undue hardship. —Appellant said he was the only man on the farm. His mother and aunt lived there, but both were^lderly.—The Chairman said that the report before the board expressed the opinion that appellant was not absolutely essential, and that the place could be managed with a little assistance. —Appellant said that his ground had been under water, and that he was only now able to put in crop. The cattle would also need to be looked after.—Adjourned sine die, subject to revision at any time. Robert Jury, farm laborer (Mr Sourr), appealed on the ground of undue hardship. There was also an appeal by Minnie Jury, as employer.—Mr Scurr said that since the .original hearing another son had gone to the front, this making fire—lt war, stated that one son had returned invalided, been discharged, and iu error drawn in the ballot. He had declined to appeal, and had gone back a?ain. —The Chairman : "Your family have dene excellently, Mrs Jury. This appeal will be adjourned sine die."

Robert Oliver Crawford, dairy farmer (Mr Stephens), appealed on the grounds of undue hardship.—There was also an appeal by Elizabeth Crawford as employer.— Captain Preen oross-examined Mrs Crawford closely regarding the possibility of getting assistance to do the owork on the farm, whether by her brother In-law, her brother, or neighboring farmers.—Mr Stephens contended that the reservist was in practically the same position as a man. with** two children. He agreed that the uncle should _ help, but evidently it was a case of " leading a horse to water."—Adjourned till the next sitting of the board for the attendance of William Crawford (the- uncle) ns witness. ' Albert John Ings, dairyman (Mr HanIon), appealed . on the ground of undue hardship.—There was also an appeal by Sarah Ings, as employer.—The report before the bawd stated that the reservist was principally a dealer in stock, and was not an essential worker.—The reservist said that his work on the farm was his principal occupation in the season; in winter ho mostly did dealing. It was impossible for his mother to pet along alone. Ho got a share from the farm.—To Captain Free: There were about 40 dairy cows and 10 to 20 store cattle on the farm. Last season there werer 16 and 80 respectively.—Mrs Ings (mother) said she coukl not possibly nm the place herfaeif. Her daughter i-efused to milk.— Appeal dismissed, appellant not to be called up before the October draft.