RELEASE SOUGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24969, 11 August 1944, Page 4

RELEASE SOUGHT

"DOING A BOY'S WORK" V APPEAL FOR SOLICITOR "A boy of 15 could do what I am doing in the Air Force," said Harry .Rosen, aged 31, a barrister and solicitor, when an application for his release from the Royal New Zealand Air Force was considered by the No. 1 Armed Forces Appeal Board yesterday. The appeal for his release was lodged by the legal firm of Meredith, Meredith, Kerr and Clenl, by whom Rosen was employed before his enlistment. Mr Cleal appeared in support of the application. Mr Cleal stated that before joining the Air Force, tliQ reservist had been engaged in assisting the Crown Prosecutor, Mr V. R. Meredith; and there were legal problems involved in the work which only a few solicitors were qualified and experienced to do. Rosen was one of those persons. Service Overseas The Crown Prosecutor's work had greatly increased as a result of the war, continued Mr Cleal, and concern was felt for his health. He and his staff had been required to work inordinately long hours. "Even so, we would not apply for Rosen's release if"he were doing useful work in the forces," aclcled Mr Cleal. In giving evidence on his own behalf, the reservist said he had trained in Canada as an observer and later served in England as a sergeant-observer. In October of last year he was repatriated to New Zealand after being grounded for medical reasons, and in spite of the training he had had was now being employed as a signals clerk. "Merely Entering Up Message?"

In answer to a question by a member of the-board, Rosen said his duties merely involved entering up signal messages in a register and could be done by anyone, He was on duty from 7.50 a.m. to •") p.m. but was called on to do cudv about three hours of work a day. An inspection of his station had been carried out recently by (he Armed Forces Investigation Committee and he understood tliey had recommended sweeping changes. The board decided to recommend the reservist's release.