MILITARY SERVICE BOARDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4475, 16 February 1917, Page 5

MILITARY SERVICE BOARDS.

OTAGO APPEALS. (Press Association Telegram.) DUNEDIN, Feb. 15. . The first Military Service Board today granted conditional exemption to the Rev. Button, Anglican, on the certificate of the MinisteV for Defence. Prominent among the appellants before the Second Board at Balclntha were small farmers, who could find no one to carry on the work satisfactorily if they went on active service. In adjourning one case the chairman (Mr. V. G. Day) said the Board intended to make representations to the Government on the subject of getting assistance for small farmers to work their places if they had to go. “They must not rely too much on anything being done,” the chairman added. RAILWAY APPEALS. (Press Association Telegram.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 15. The Railway Department, in applying for the "exemption of 50 ballotmen by the Military Board, stated that the staff was now down to bedrock. Many were working overtime. The limit fiad been reached. The Board granted exemption for three months, to enable, the Government to consider, the policy of continuing all existing train services or otherwise.

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS. (Press As-soriat'or: ! eiegi-am.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 15. A deputation of Seventh Day Adventists waited upon Sir James Allen this afternoon. The principal request was that they should be allchved to carry out non-combatant service only; also that they be not required to perform such duties,...on the Lord’s Sabbath from sunset on Friday till sunset on Saturday. The Minister pointed out that the Milltarv Boards had power to deal with conscientious religious objectors. As for the observance of the Sabbath the war was carried on every day. Great inconvenience and difficulty would arise if an attempt were made to differentiate in the case of Seventh Day Adventists in the training camps. However, he would see what could be done.