REQUEST FOR LEAVE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10057, 23 August 1918, Page 5

REQUEST FOR LEAVE

A REMARKABLE CASE SEVERE CRITICISM OF AN APPELLANT. Press Association. GISBORNE, August 22. A remarkable case came before tho Military' Service Board to-day, when an appellant named Lance-Corporal C. A. Barnfathcr, who asked for an extension of leave, was. severely criticised for giving what the board characterised as doubtful evidence. The chairman stated that appellant had already applied for leavo to enable him to carry out divorce proceedings. He was given leave, but pay was stopped and ho asked for full pay, as he was supporting children. A report was received later from the military authorities which, put quite a different complexion on tho case, and tho authorities desired that full inquiries be made in the matter. Appellant said his .wife deserted him in 1913, and was away for a month. She then returned, and endeavoured to make it no with him, but ho refused. Appellant added that when lie refused to make it up with wife, she had an order made against him for maintenance. Witness’s mother looked after tho children. Just before he embarked on a troopship his wife took tho children from his mother’s care and claimed maintenance. The chairmans' “How did you return from service to the Dominion ?” Appellant: “My colonel said it was a deserving case, and he urged mo to return to New Zealand to conduct divorce proceedings.” Captain Beale: “You are malting blackguardly statements against your wife. Have any proceedings taken place yet? It ,is .two or . three months ago siaco you were last before a board in Wellington.” Appellant: “It is a difficult matter to piece the information together,” Captain Beale.” “Wasn’t the trouble causejl by your failure to maintain her and’ the ' children ?”—“No.” “Wasn’t there a prosecution against you in 1915 for failing to support your wife and family ?”—“I cannot remember' that.’”’ ’ Captain Beale: “You have misled tho authorities at the front; you have misled the board; and now you have made false statements against your wife.” Mr R. M. Birrell deposed that he was chairman of “the claims committee of the Citizens’.' Defence' Committee, and had gone fully into the case. That was about fifteen months ago. Mrs Barnfatber was getting no allowance whatever. Representations were made to the authorities, concerned, and a children’s allowance was made, but no separation allowance, Or, allotment. The Mayor and himself secured the allotment. Witness had used every method to ascertain if there waa any truth in the statement of appellant against his wife, but without success. Barnfatber returned to New Zealand by some means or other, and had her allowance stopped. Witness telegraphed to Wellington, but failed to’seeuro any satisfaction, and the claims committee had been obliged to subsidise her in the meantime. Tho chairman (to appellant): “How long ..were yon."on ..active service?” Appellant“ About twelve months." Mr Barnard said that the man’s bona fides had been challenged, and he asked for a remand till tho afternoon in order to call appellant’s mother. The chairman: “We are wanting to know why he attempted to mislead this board. The records we have show that an order was made for maintenance of the children;” -■■ ■ - ■ • Captain Beale: “I would like to see this man sent into camp immediately. He is loafing around town and making no attempt to support his children.” Appellant: “They are mine by rights, and should be in my custody." The chairman: “The hoard considers that appellant should either proceed with divorce proceedings immediately or go back into camp.”'" Captain Beale: “He has been here three months. Will the board fix a time?”

The chairman: “By the next sitting of the board.”., , ...