APPELLANTS TO MILITARY SERVICE BOARDS.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13940, 25 July 1917, Page 7

APPELLANTS TO MILITARY SERVICE BOARDS.

FEW SHIRKERS IX XEW ZEALAND. AUCKLAND, July S3. Sonic references were m;i>!e to the working of the Military Service Act by Mr George Elliot, member of the First Auckland Military Service Board, in a speech on Saturday evening at the Auckland Orphans' Club. In speaking cf the ballot system, Mr Elliot said: "There are some wrong impression:! abroad, It is not a disgrace for a man to be called up in the ballot, ('Hear, hear.') It would have bct'u a Godsend for New Zealand if the ballot had been instituted very much sooner. ('Hear, hear.') There are many men who have not volunteered who arc acting a more heroic part than some who have volunteered. There are soinc men who, if they had left. Xew Zealand, would be shirking {heir duty —men who HL are carrying a heavy burden; some with l| widowed mother to look after, and with a wife and as many as nine children to support. These men to stop iu Xew Zealand. "■There is another wrong impression," added Mr Elliot. "It is supposed that in Xew Zealand there are a great number of slackers and shirkers, This is not a fact, We of the First Military Service' Board have had about 2500 cases through our hands, and I can tell rou that shirkers arc comparatively few. Most of the men who come before U3 are thoroughly decent; fellows, lam certain that Xew Zealand conscripts will do their work as well as volunteers." ("Hear, hear.") Major C'cnlan, military representative attached to the First Military Service' Board, in endorsing Mr Elliot's views, remarked: "The average appellant is a . very fine class of man. There is hardly one who, after he has put his case before the the board, is not content to accept its decision and to 'do his bit,' There are many men vrho have been before the board who, wlicn I have .subsequently seen them after being in camp, have- stated that they were quite pleased to be there and to be doing their bit." (Applause,). For Influenza take Woods Great Peppermint Never faib 1/6, 2/5,