ARMY RELEASES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24537, 20 March 1943, Page 8

ARMY RELEASES

AUCKLAND CASES APPEAL BOARD SITTINGS A number of applications for the release of soldiers from camp were beard by the Auckland appeal boards yesterday. In practically all the cases the applications were lodged bv employers who stated that they needed the men for important work About 30 cases were heard by the No. 1 Board in the morning and in tin afternoon the No. 2 Board dealt with 27. Both sittings were held in the new board room on the fourth floor of Civic House. In most cases in which the soldiers were below grade one no objection was offered by th'- Army representative, Lieutenant B. C. Hart, unless the men occupied key positions in their units. In only a few of the cases affecting soldiers under 21 years was there any opposition by the Army. The units expressed objection to the applications in all cases of grade one soldiers between the ages of 20 and 10 inclusive. The boards made recommendations in some of the cases in which Army opposition was expressed. Where the men were over 41 years of age opposition was expressed onlv in cases of key personnel. During the morning sitting the f'ro\vn representative on the No. 1 Board. Mr. F. .1. Cox. raised the question of whether the men released would automatically go into the Home Guard without a direction to that effect from the board. lie thought that such men should be transferred to Home Guard service. It was agreed that Home Guard service should be - considered in each case and that where desirable a direction should be made. Where the hours of work for which the man was released were long a direction for Home Guard service was not issued. GIRL'S RETURN SOUGHT NO RECOMMENDATION MADE An application for the release from the Army of a member of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps was heard by the No. 1 (Auckland) Armed Forces Appeal Board yesterday. The reservist was Gunner -Marv Davoren and the appellant was the Franklin Machinery Exchange, Limited (Pukekohe), the girl's former employer. Representing the appellant Mr. McKenzie said the reservist had been employed by the machinery exchange for about three years prior to her mobilisation last October. She kept the books, handled cash safes and could also perform some mechanical repairs. Since her departure other members of the staff had been lost and there was no available girl in Pukekohe suitable for her position. She knew the business thoroughly. The firm was engaged in reconditioning farmers' machines. The girl wished to return to her work. Lieutenant B. C. Hart, who appeared for the Army, said the reservist was grade one and was 21. She had been trained as a range taker and had replaced a man who had been released to the manpower authorities. She was doing valuable work where she was. Even if she were grade two the Army would object to her release. The board did not make a recommendation. v OVERSEAS LIABILITY RELEASE RECOMMENDED A oase in which the manpower officer sought the release from the Army of Frank Brayue, who was required for important shipbuilding work with Seagar Brothers. Limited, was heard by the No 1 (Auckland) Armed Forces Appeal Board yesterday. The case for the manpower officer was conducted by Miss 13. England, of the National Service Department. Miss England said that Brayne was a plumber with 14 years' experience. The work for which he was required was of great national importance. Information obtained by the manpower office from Army records stated that the man was grade two. Expressing the Army's opposition to the application. Lieutenant B. C. Hart said that according to the unit records the man wa i grade one and was 33. He. had an overseas liability. "I cannot see that the matter hinges entirely on the man's grading." said Mr. A. M. Samuel, a member of the board. " If all the grade one men are to be taken out of industry the firms will have still greater difficulty in filling the Army's requirements. It is a matter of which is the more important —the Army or the essential man in an industry which is supplying the Army." Lieutenant Hart said he was acting according to the latest instructions which had been given t(\ the Army. There had to be exceptional circumstances to justify the release of a man who had overseas obligations. The Crown representative, Mr. F. J. Cox. said that a complete survey of the Army had been made, and if a grade two man could be found to perform the work required by Seagar Brothers, Brayne should stay in the Army. The board recommended the man's release. WORKERS' PROTEST WESTFI ELD CANNERY Exception has been taken by the men and women employees at the Westfield freezing works cannery to the statement reported to have been made by Mr. W. S. Hatwell, of Hatwell Hat Manufacturing Company, Limited, before the Auckland Manpower (Industrial) Committee when several girls appealed against the manpower officer's direction to work at the cannery. Mr. Hatwell was reported to have said that if the manpower officer required girls for Westfield he would find plenty every day in the hotel lounges. At a meeting of the cannery employees the following resolution was adopted:—"This meeting of men and women protests against the alleged statements of Mr. Hatwell during the appeals of girls being sent to Westfield. Wo consider that this statement may reflect on the moral character of the women and girls employed at Westfield and would be discomforting to their relatives overseas. We call upon Mr. Hatwell to retract or clarify his statement regarding finding female labour in hotel lounges for Westfield Freezine Company," THEFT OF SUITCASES Two youths admitted stealing two suitcases and contents valued at £2O from the Newmarket railway station when they appeared before Mr. J. TT. Luxford. S.M.. yesterday. One, aged 17. whose name was suppressed, was placed on probation for two years. The other. Leonard Fox, driver, aged 20. who was placed on probation when convicted of three charces of theft last month, was sent to a Borstal institution for a period not exceeding two years.