CALLED UP

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9600, 5 March 1917, Page 3

CALLED UP

WELLINGTON BOARD REFUSES TO EXEMPT MARINE ENGINEERS. The third Military Service Board, consisting of Messrs W. H. Moorhouso (chairman), A. O. Considine, and J. Mack, finished its sittings in Wellington for the present on Saturday. Captain P. Baldwin represented the military authorities. At the conclusion of Saturday’s sitting the hoard gave its reserved decisions in the cases of sis marine engineers in the employ of the Union Steam Ship Company. The decisions were announced by the chairman without any remarks, and were as follow ;

Eric Allan Cole.—Appeal dismissed. George Clement Wadsworth and Alexander Murray Wishart. —Appeals dismissed, the military representative undertaking to obtain leave without pay until March 28th. Leonard Prescott Draper, Percy John Gibson Ward, and Arthur Wilkinson Bagley.—Appeals dismissed, the military representative undertaking to obtain leave without pay until the return of the appellants to'New Zealand.

Joseph Walker, fireman, lately employed on the s.s. Tarawera, was transferred to the Second Division.

The following cases wore adjourned sine dio:—George Watts, seaman, Lyttelton ; Ernest George Allan, seaman, s.s. Patecna; William John Jones, seaman, Wellington; John Quinn, seaman, Lyttelton; James Patrick Hourigan, slaughterman (for whom Mr M. J. Reardon appeared). The appeals of John Reynolds, seaman, and James McKnight, fireman, Lyttelton, were dismissed. NO EXEMPTION. An employers’ application was made on behalf of Eric James Fuller, traveller for Levin and 00., for temporary exemption for six weeks from March sth. It was explained that a returned soldier had been engaged to take his place, and had to ho introduced to the other man’s round. The board declined to grant any extension. The appeal of Arthur Charles Clements, railway surfaceman, was formally dismissed. It was explained that he was resigning from the department, and was a voluntary recruit. He did not require the temporary exemption I asked for by the department. In regard to George Charles Nicklin Merry, it was reported that he had already served and been discharged as medically unfit, and the appeal was allowed. An application was made by Commissioner O’Donovan for the exemption of Constable John Bruton (Napier), on the ground of public interest. The case was adjourned sine die. James Smith, a puller in the fellmongery department of the Gear Company, applied for exemption, and was supported by bis employers. It was explained that the number of pullers employed by the company had already been reduced from 23 to 14, and this employee could not very well be spared at present. An attempt had been made to get another apprentice in the pulling department, but so far one had not been forthcoming. It was suggested that Smith should be exempted until July. Leave of absence was granted until June 3rd. ONLY MARRIED A MONTH. Herbert Noel Godfrey, of 14, Marion street, Wellington, stated that his mother was a widow of fifty-seven, and he had one brother who had served in Gallipoli and France. He also had a sister living with his mother at Picton. She was in employment. He sent Lis mother 10s a week. He was married last month, after he had been drawn in the ballot. His mother was not getting anything from his brother, no allocation having been made. He asked for an extension of time for a month, and this was agreed to. Michael O’Sullivan, sixth engineer, R.M.S. Moana, did not appear, and the case was adjourned for a month. Ralph H. Skipworth, Wellesley Club, Wellington, made an application for temporary exemption for one month. Ho stated that he had enlisted at Palmerston North in January. He had handicapping and starting duties to carry out in connection with racing, and it would mean a considerable loss of fees coming to him if be had to go into camp at once. Relief was granted until April 28th. RELIGIOUS SCRUPLES. Frank Hooper, farmer, Reikiorangi, pleaded religious scruples. He stated that he was a “follower of Jesus,” but belonged to no particular denomination. Two of his brothers were at the front, and there were six more, three being married. He would not offer for ambulance work. In reply to Mr Mack, the appellant acknowledged that ho would naturally like to see the Allies win the war, but if other people thought like him there would be no war. He explained that at the beginning of the war, before he had his present views, he had been medically rejected. The appeal was dismissed. „ „ In the case of William H. Powell, Grant road, Wellington, who had represented that he had already been at the front with the Royal Artillery, and was suffering from shell-shock, it was now represented that he was prepared to enlist on the 13th inst, and Captain Baldwin consented to allow tho appeal.