MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 16550, 9 October 1917, Page 2

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

SITTING AT DUNEDIN.

The FirstrOtngo Service Board —Messrs Widdowson, S.M. .(chairman), Kclleft, and Bell—began a three days' sitting at Dunedin yesterday, to hear appeals from the ballot. Captain Free was the military representative. John Samson Fleming, orchardist, Mosgiel, appealed on the ground of undue hardship in connection with his mother's ill-health.—This was an adjourned appeal, and'it was now dismissed, reservist not to be callel up till the November draft. 'The Acting Dean of the Dental Faculty (Mr Owen Da-vies) appealed on behalf of Cecil Haden_ Tait, dental student.—The Chairman pointed out that this appeal had already been disposed of, and could only be reheard if fresh evidence were forthcoming.—Appellant said he understood that the matter had been reopened.—The Chairman intimated that this was not so, and that the board had .no option but to dismiss the appeal. v Dr L. Ferguson appealed on behalf of Walter Watson Little and David Collingwood 1 Low, medical students in fourth and final year respectively.—Adjourned sine die. The Rev. Father Coffey appealed on behalf of Francis Bowler (head teachor), Anthony Breen and Timothy Linehan(who asked for time to sit for an examination), James Patrick Delany (priest), Martin Joseph KHmeck, Francis Joseph Skinner, Francis Ernest Yirrell (theological students in their first year), and Henry Norman Woods (priest).—ln the case of the two priests, the appeals were adjourned sine die, with tho usual conditions. The theological students' appeals were adjourned sino die, to be considered further when advice was received from the Recruiting Board. The two students asking for time were granted till the December draft. The adjourned appeal of Ebenezer Moir, clerk, Mornington, was now dismissed, reservist not to be called up until the November draft. Thomas Keyes, letter carrier, Dunedin" (Mr Scurr), appealed on the ground of undue hardship.—Appellant said that five of his brothers were on active service or about to go, and he was the only son remaining at home. His mother was a widow and if one of the brothers were to return fit and able to look after the mother he would bo willing to go. He had already volunteered twice, and was very keen to go.—-Adjourned sine die, to b'e v reconsidered if any change of circumstances should occur. George Frederick Maclean, mechanical engineer, Dunedin.—Mr Stephens appeared for this reservist, who, he said, had been advanced from the B2 list to 81. The employers, not knowing what would happen in the reservist's case, had allowed the time for appealing to expire. He now put in an application for extended leave. —The personal appeal was reservist not to be called up before the December draft.

In the appeal of J. Sparrow and Sons on behalf of Alexander Charles Black, foreman patternmaker, Dunedin, Mr Stephens said that since the previous hearing satisfactory arrangements had been made to fill Black's place, and the appellants had nothing further to urge.—The .appeal was formally dismissed. David Currie, farm assistant, Maungatua, was granted extension of leave till tho January draft. The appeal of Herbert Philip Keen, railway foreman, Dunedin, adjourned for Mr Cumming's report, was now dismissed, appellent not to be called up before the November draft.

The appeal of the Dunedin Fire Board on behalf of William Adamson, fireman, was formally dismissed, reservist having been classed C2.

The appeal of Walter Douglas Dawson, farmer, _ Otokia, was formally dismissed, there being no appearance of appellant. John George Macka-y, salesman, Caversham (Mr Payne), appealed on the ground of -undue hardship.—Mr Payne said this reservist's appeal had been previously adjourned for medical re-examination, -with the_ result that he had classed CI. This, said counsel, placed Mackay in an even worse positioii7 as he -was in danger of losing his billet for an uncertainty. H» had two brothers at the front, both of whom had been wounded. He was a married, man with a child. He also ■ suffered from rheumatism.—The appeal was adjourned to Allow of an application being made for financial assistance. [Messrs Begg and Co., the appellant's employers, advise us that an undertaking was given some weeks ago that appellant's position would be kept open for him.] Lionel M. Coxhead, Customs and shipping agent, appealed .on the ground of undue hardship.-.-There was also an appeal by F. M. Coxhead as emplover.— The Chairman handed a letter back'to the reservist, and advised him to detach it from his appeal before going any further. He deprecated the casting of anv such imputations as' were contained in 'the letter. Captain Free was there to do his duty and to place all the available evidence before the board, just as it was his (appellant's) duty to place his facts before the board. Personal motives were not to be imputed.—Appellant: Surely I have the privilege of answering the statements made by this man before the board.—The Chairman : You must think we are a poor tribunal. If what you object to is in reference to your brother, we may say that we were not influenced at all.—Mr Bell said : to appellant that his appeal had received exceedingly sympathetic consideration when it was before the board previously, but he (appellant) was doing his best to prejudice his case by making violent and reckless imputations against one of the persons connected with the tribunal. —Appellant: I merely wish to protect the good name of my family.—Appellant withdrew the letter, and the appeal was then gone into.—Appellant said that two of his brothers were at the front, and one was doing military duty in camp. To Captain Free: Only one reply had been received to an advertisement inserted bv the firm. Nobody connected with the Express Company or any other firm had made any offer of assistance in connection with the business.—Mr Coxhead, sen., also stated that no offer of assistance had been made. The business would have to be closed if his son were called up.—Captain Free said he would have to cither withdraw the suggestion that assistance had been offered or prove it. He had information to that effect, and would ask for an adjournment to ascertain the position.—The matter was adjourned till the next sitting of the board.

The secretary of the Seamen's Union appealed on behalf of Frodk. D. Matheson and James R. Sutherland, A.B.s.—Conditional exemption granted. The appeal of Robert Johnston Ander-' son, telegraphist, South Dunedin (Mr Scurr) was adjourned for Mr Cumming's report. William D. Anderson, accountant, Dunedin, asked for extension of time till December to arrange his affairs and to conclude his offico work.—Appellant was allowed till the December draft for CI men. William Simpson Williams, Middlemarch, a volunteer recruit, made application for temporary exemption.—-There was no appearance.of the applicant, and the board made no recommendation. There was an application by the Commandant for a rehearing of the appeal of Peter Alex. M'Laren.—-Adjourned till the following morning for medical evidence regarding appellant's mother.