CALLED TO THE FLAG

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10082, 21 September 1918, Page 11

CALLED TO THE FLAG

PUBLIC SERVICE APPEALS 37 HEARD BY FIRST WELLINGTON BOARD. Thirty-seven appeals from various departments of the Public Service ivera heard yesterday by the First Wellington Military Service Board—Messrs D. G. A. Cooper, S.M. (chairman), D. McLaren and Guv Williams. An appeal was lodged by the Public Works Department for the temporary exemption of William Thomas Campbell (district engineer, Dunedin). The reservist, it was stated, was engaged on irrigation work in Central twve till tho November draft was recommended. »

The Imperial Supplies Department appealed for the temporary exemption of John Moody (inspector of wool-scour-ing works, Timaru), and in this case also tho board recommended leave till the November draft.

Appeals were lodged by the Public Trustee for the exemption of E. J. P. Denny (supervising wool-valuer, . St. Clair, Dunedin), S. W. Smith (district manager, Napier), F. E. Duncan (accountant, Wellington), W. G. Allingi ham (accounts clerk, Wellington), T. E. Roberts (controller: of the Soldiers' Estates Division. Wellington), and A. H. Pellow (correspondence clerk, "Wellington). Tho chief clerk stated that it was impossible at the present timo to replace these men; while the work of the department was growing, and much of it was of a technical character requiring special training and experience. Decision was reserved. The Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals appealed for the exemption of <H. D. Tyrer (attendant, Porirua), A. |g. Minlayson (deputy charge attendant, Sunnyside), W. G. Lopley (plunibei\ Tokaiiui Mental Hospital), Richard' Young (stoker, Porirua), and G. M. Norris (attendant. Pukehiki). Evidence was given as to the great dffieulty experienced in getting suitable attendants, and that there was a shortage of such officers. Tho appeal in respect of Yonne was adjourned till the December sittings, and the other cases were adjourned indefinitely- t Appeals were lodged bv Mr- D. G. Clark (Commissioner of Taxes) for the exemption of 11. H. A. Young (inspector Land and Income Tax Department) and C. E. J. Dowland (actingincome tax inspector, Wellington). The Commissioner stated that the otncers in question had access to the confidential documents of taxpayers, and therefore it was important that such positions should be held by permanent officers only. Decision was reserved. Decision was also reserved in tho case of James William Coard (clerk ii. charge of the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department, Wellington). Evidence was given that the reservist had had 14 years' experience in thfe Public Service, and that he could not be replaced. Appeals were made ov the Commissioner of Stamps for tho. exemption of Harold Ennor (stamp clerk, Auckland) and John Andrew Fraser (assistant jland registrar, Christchurch). The deipartment. it was stated, were anxious I to allow every man they could spare !to go into camp,'but thoy must havo a minimum of trained men to enable Uhem to carry on. These officers could not bo replaced. Indefinite exemption was granted. , „.. Appeals by, tho Government Insurance Commissioner for tlu, of Norman Wcbloy and William Luc Arnold (clfiAs, Wellington) were heard. It was stated in evidence that,. owing to the liberality of tho Financial Assistance Board in regard to life insmanco premiums, the work of department had increased confiidciably, and experienced men wore necessary to cope with it. At the beginning of tho war the, staffs at the head office and i in. the ten branches numbered 1-0, and of these 58 had enlisted. JMivthcr, four men had been lent to the Defence Department and two to the Uischarged Soldiers' Information Department' and one had been appointed secretary to -the Rational War Funds Council. Jno department had shifted the mon "bout like pawns on a chess-board, but had now come to the end of their tethor. For two years past annual leave haci bad to bo stopped. . Decision was reserved. The Justice Department appealed for the exemption of Frank Mitchell, late registrar at Rarotonga, but now recalled to New Zealand on account of the shorta.ee r>f officers and nrmomted deputy clerk of the Magistrate a Court at Rotorua, clerk to the Licensing Committee, and deputy registrar of births, deaths, and manages. Tho shortage, it was stated, wai very acute. At the outbreak of the war tho proportion of experienced men to juniors was two to one, now it was only five to four. Indefinite exemption was granted. Mr W. B. Montgomery (Comptroller of Customs) appeared in support of appeals by the Customs Department for tho exemption of E. D. Good (examining officer, Wellington), F. N. Abercrombie (examining officer, Auckland), and R. J. Gray (examining officer, Wellington). Mr Montgomery stated that there was a great shortage of suitable men, and the department had three important vacancies which it would be very difficult to fill.. n*> «ould no longer meet tho position by re-shuffling the cards as between the different ports. Indefinite exemption was granted in each case. Indefinito exemptions wore, on the appeal of the Marine Department, granted in the cases of A. H. Sanders (assistant lighthouse-keeper, Farewell Spit), A. J. Hooper (assistnnt ugnt-house-keoper, Stevens' Island, French Pass), and J. W. Dougall (assistant lighthouse-keeper, Bluff). Mr W. Tl. Morris (Secretary to tho Post and Telegraph Department) lodged appeals for tho exemption ot Frank William Duffiold (senior mechanician at tho Palmerston North telephono exchange), E. H, Reid (boilormaker, Brooklyn), and Bertie Campbell (foreman cable-splicer, C'hristchnrch}. Evidence was given that tho experienced staff of tho department had beon groatly depleted owing to supplying reinforcements for the wireless, flints. Exemption till January only was nslcod in tho case of Reid. This was granted. Indefinite exemption was allowed in the other eases: Some 53 per cent. of the employees of this department; who woi-0 of military ago Intel gone into camp, and they wero'-still going. The Inspector of Prisons appealed for tho exemption of It. ~XV. Arnold and .1. L. Davies (prison warders, Auckland). Evidence wa s given that the Prisons Department simply cotlM not get suitable mon now. They wero already short of warders. In fact, in Wellington alone thoy were working seven, officers short.

Tljo board adjourned till 10- a.m. on Tuesday next.