FUNCTIONS OF SPECIAL TRIBUNAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 25 October 1941, Page 6

FUNCTIONS OF SPECIAL TRIBUNAL

FINANCIAL POSITION OF CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS PROCEDURE OUTLINED Wellington, This Day.' The intention of the National Service Emergency Regulations is that ap- j pellants shall be in no better financial position than if they were serving as members of the armed forces, irrespec- j live of what they may be earning in j 1 their present occupations stated Mr ! Semple in a statement regarding the j functions of the special tribunal which i will shortly begin its sittings. The Minister said that it would be ' necessary to determine a basic rate! ! which would represent the equivalent j ]of pay. keep, clothing, medical and dental attention which a member of the ; armed forces would receive. In order !to obtain uniformity this basic rate 1 and the general principles to be ap-pfip-d in the making of orders would be ! determined by a special tribunal before the sittings commenced. In addition ;to the army pay of seven shillings a : day received by privates allowances : are made for their dependants and the ' Minister said that similar allowances i would be made to successful appellants, i It was also not intended to deviate in j , ’.he case of conscientious objectors from !' the principle of paying allowances to 1 j the wife and children of a member of ! I tl)' 1 armed forces irrespective of whe- i' ! liter he married before he became a ( ' i member of the armed forces or at any ; [ 'time subsequently. 1 Mr Semple said that the special tribunal would investigate the financial i position of appellants and inquire into : ! the salary, wages or income they were earning. If the earned income of the!' appellant is greater than the basic rate 1 iso fixed, together with any allowances j' j he would have received as a member j' ! °f the armed forces he will be ordered i •Social Security fund. If the appellant’s ! earnings are less than the basic rate and ! allowances no financial order will lie i made in his case and be will certainly ! n °t receive any subsidy for any dc- : i ficiency. A person whose appeal has been dismissed unconditionally will not be dealt with bv the special tribunal. Any order made in respec-t of an ap- ! pellant whose appeal has been dismiss- | ed subject to non combatant service will not interfere with the right of the military authorities to post such a person for non-combatant duties. In either case failure to report for duty when directed to do so constitutes an offence rendering such persons liable i to prosecution as defaulters. In lieu of j or in addition to other lawful penalties .a defaulter may on conviction be com- ; mitted to defaulters’ detention for the j duration of the war. Mr Semple added i that if any appellant failed to comply with the order of the tribunal there j was adequate power under the regulations to deal with him as a defaulter—j P.A.