LEAVE FOR SOLICITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16936, 23 August 1918, Page 4

LEAVE FOR SOLICITOR.

INVALIDED' SOLDIER i partner. The First. Auckland -Military Service Board yesterday considered the appeal 'of Robert R. Bell, barrister and solicitor, a volunteer: recruit, originally classed C2, who asked for extension of leave in order that his partner, Lieutenant H. B. Speight, might be enabled to carry on the practice. Appellant explained ; that . : Lieutenant Speight had ' recently' returned wounded from the front,'and produced medical cer» tificatea testifying that he' would be unfit to Engage in; active work; for ;at : least six months, as a result of his injuries and an operation which he had undergone im> mediately following his return home, in June. Appellant wished,'-..therefore,' to remain in chargo of the practice Until hi& partner was able to take it -over. Tho latter had assisted in building it up, and had knowledge of details' that an outsider would not have.'.".".i '•'",.'. >„.,.,.•

Appellant said his partner's' presence was essential to the maintenance of tho practice, and it would be impossible to find a man to take it over at'the present time. A letter from the registrar of tho University College was also produced, stating s that - appellant • was ■ acting as assistant law lecturer, and classes would bo seriously disorganised if ho had to leave before the November examinations. "Evemif I had to close down the business,"-, said appellant, "I do not think I could complete this before the end of November. To make preparations for Speight to carry on and also keep up the university classes, I would require still longer." i .';■'. > .'.•'/ • The chairman said it seemed" obvious that the practice could not satisfactorily be carried on unless extension of timo were granted. Leave until November would be rather short, no draft would leave in December; exemption'.would,' therefore, be granted until January.''' - •'■ v;; .