APPEALS AGAINST SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 23728, 8 November 1940, Page 9

APPEALS AGAINST SERVICE

SOME FRIVOLOUS PRETEXTS EMPLOYERS’ ATTITUDE APPRECIATED [Per United' Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 7. A further reference to the.question of appeals against being called up for Territorial service was made to-day by the Minister of National • Service (Mr Semple). “As I have previously stated, the Minister said, appeals have been received from or on behalf of nearly 50 per cent, of the men called up in the first ballot. Although I personally have nothing whatever to do with the allowing or dismissing of them, I have informed myself regarding the nature of the appeals being made. By far the greater proportion of them are based on reasonable grounds, but no inconsiderable number can best be described as frivolous, and I am sure, the Manpower Committees will giro them short shrift. “There was the instance of a man wishing to spend a several months’ visit to relatives before going into camp,” Mr Semple said. “ Another asked to have his service postponed in order that he might assist his landlady in connection with a. prospective move to other premises. A third wished to purchase a car and obtain a driving license, which ho appeared to think would assist him in his military career. Those that I have quoted are, of course, extreme instances, but there are hundreds of cases where it is obvious that no real effort has been made to meet comparatively trivial inconveniences which would, arise from the absence of the recruit, which, after all, is only for a period of three months. “ I must, however, give credit where it is due,” Mr Semple said, “ and that is to the great number of employers who have refrained from appealing on behalf of their employees, even at the expense of some disorganisation of business and loss to themselves. Most of the employers’ appeals which have been received are in respect of men in ikey positions, and are quite justified. When such is the case short postponements are being given to permit of arrangements being made to release the men concerned at a later date.”