A CONTRACTOR AND TRAINING.

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1916, Page 2

A CONTRACTOR AND TRAINING.

PLEA FOE EXEMPTION,

WHANGABBI CONTRACTS INVOLVED.

Application for exemption from military training, under the territorial system, was made by Noel Cole, a* young builder, before Mr F. V. Fraser, S.M., lv the Police Court on Wednesday. Mr H. J. Durham, for the applicant, Baid his client had been engaged for some time in supervising contract works which he had in hand. Some of the contracts had reference to places a considerable distance from Auckland, and the applicant's attention was so much occupied by supervising those works in the day time that his evenings had to be devoted to such work as the preparation of estimates, plans, quantities, and general items relating to the business. It vras work which could not be delegated, and if he were compelled to render service he would suffer pecuniary loss. It was only about two months since the applicant had been called up for medical examination and passetl as fit. Prior to that he had been considered ineligible.

Applicant, on oath, supplemented hi? solicitor's statement. He said he had works in hand, or pending, at Whangarei, Takapuna, and Paeroa. It was only personal supervision which kept his business together. During the past three months he had employed an average of 40 men. ■: In answer to Sergeant-Major Dale, the applicant said he had not done any drill since his cadctship. If he had to enlist, his business would have to be wound up. He had not enlisted, but he had'offered his services in the motor boat patrol without success. Besides, he had asked for time in which to wind up his business. The Magistrate: Are you married or single?— Single. , Sergeant-Major Dale: He is an independent man. His people are independent and he has no one dependent on him. He says he has contracts involving £11,000. In that ease he can afford to employ a book-keeper for one hour a week. Mr Durham pointed out that a bookkeeper could not do the work which occupied the applicant in the evenings. The magistrate said it was appar*. ently a case of the applicant drilling for one hour a week. It was not fair to exempt a man just because he was a busy man. If the applicant could not employ anyone to do his work it only meant working one extra hour a week. . , . . ■ ~. The application was refused. ,„