HOME SERVICE MEN.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 27 October 1917, Page 4

HOME SERVICE MEN.

UTILISATION OF LABOR,

APPEAL BOARD'S ACTIVITY

A highly important announcement was maue by Mr D. G. A- hooper, S.M., chairman of tne First Wellington Military Service Board, at yesterday's sittings at Hawera.

A case had come before the Board in which the employer and the reservist himself had gone to much trouuie to replace the latter, but there had been no advertising. This is a requirement usually insisted'on by the Board. The circumstances, however, were exceptional, in that the reservist was not merely looking after a farm of no inconsiderable extent for a soldier at the front, but had the sole responsibility and labor in connection with his own farm as well. It was proved to be difficult to secure labor for the employer's place. Therefore, the Board did not insist on advertising or enquiry from labor agencies with a view to replacing the' reservist, and granted exemption sine die on the usual conditions.

Parliament is at the present moment dealing with legislation aiming at the compulsory utilisation of home service men on farms and in the performance of other essential work. The nosition at the present time is that a C 2 man need not do any work unless he chooses. This is inconsistent with the administration of the country in an organised manner.

The chairman referred briefly to the difficulty, and stated that the Board had decided to invite the Efficiency Board Trustees to prepare complete lists of those ineligible for military service in their districts,, showing how they are engaged, if at all. at the present time, and whether they would be available for work considered to be essential to the welfare of the tountry with the ultimate object of releasing men fit for active service. In this way the Trustees will be enabled to render most valuable assistance.