DAIRYING AND DEFENCE

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 71, 25 March 1914, Page 7

DAIRYING AND DEFENCE

AN UNUSUAL APPLICATION. At Waveriey recently. Mr TV. Kerr, S.M., heard an application for exemption from military duties on unusual grounds, the applicant taking advantage of the "undue' hardship" clause, of tihe Defence Act. The applicant, a ' young man of 23 years, gave evidence that he was engaged in dairy farming,; and Jiis duties necessitated rismg'lit 4 a.m.-dp milk the cows,' after* "which, operation general farm wprk occupied his time fill about 7 p.m. He did

not possess any conscientious objeo- { tions to the Defence Aot, but pleaded ( that if compelled to attend parades f he would be a handicap to the com- ; pany, and retard its attaining a proper degree of efficiency, as, after his work, he vras very much fatigued and not physically capable of taking an | intelligent interest in Territorial duties. The Defence authorities rather acquiesced in the plea. His ! Worship stated that he had' granted ! an exemption in another case where it was shown that applicant was en--1 gaged in delivering milk for residences, as it was essential, especially to the well-being of infant life, that milk should be delivered as expeditiously as possible, and this necessitated those engaged' in the business working early and late. In these circumstances, as in the present case, applicant would be physically deficient to a material degree on arriving at parade if the exemption application, was refused, tihat exemption should be granted for one year or until defendant discontinued his present occupation, if he did so before that time: