MILITARY SERVICE BOARDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16890, 30 December 1916, Page 11

MILITARY SERVICE BOARDS.

DUNTEDEST SITTINGS. The Obago Military Servico Board (Mr IT. Y. Widdoweoo, S. _U., chairman, and Mus.sr s A. D. Boil and 14. iveliett) held a sitting. in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, when 24 cases were dealt with. Captain Free represented the Delonee Department. I*o6ll i<Ji\ OF DENTAL. iil'UDliN'lfc}. Tho liov. A. Cameron oi Otugo University) ,in piace ol Dr Fickeriil, ai<sein. oil serivo, to appeal on (l.i.i t oi Cecil J_iauen lalt, ucuuti stuutrnt. Mr Cameruu ii-auded in a letter from Dr i'lokurUl, iitat.ug Uiat tno appeal was oil tuo ground oi undue iiardsnp, ud it wouid break tue student 6 course m iui tliird year, and aaio on mo ground oi pubiic interest, m view ol tne urgent and incroaaing need for more demists. ivl r Uamuron stated tnat Hadcn was 20 yoaia ol age, and in the tliird year of h:s dental ooiu-so. liio school had been so ail oo ted by tho war that ht> was tho only student m tlio third year, and there was omy ona in tho tourtn year. 'lwo students had qualified this yfcar, and thero were now only two students at the school. In 1915 thero were nine students, and in 1914 thero were eight, so it wad evident tnat tho war had aiiecuxi the sciiooi. 'lliero had been no new students this year or lost year, 'ihe dental course was now taJiing tho place oi apprenticing. Dr i J iekerjlt stated that ironi tlie dominion ICO. dentists had gont) on military service. JUr I'iei.eriil wua going as a specialist in jaw fractures. Air Cameron pleaded for Tail's exempt,on cineily in the public interest. More patients attended tho Dental bchool thau oouid bo treated. 'Ihesc received txoo treatment. The school cooperated with the Hospital, and gave free treatment to soldiers going away and returning. These treatments were so numerous as to represent a loss of £60 a month to tho Univors.ty. Tait was ono oi tho only two students assisting in this work. Air Bell: The ground of appeal stated is that undue hardship because of the student' 3 course would bo broken in the middle, and cotdd not bo resumed. Do you intend to take up that attitude in regard to all students?— That is Dr Fickerill's statement. I wouid not stress that parte:ular point. A; student, like all others, must make sacrifices.

Mr Widdowson asked if tho visiting staff could not cope with all the work. Mr Cameron explained that there was a visiting stall" of 12 dentists who came to tho school —two each day. Even then they could not overtake the work. Tho dentists oould hardly bo asked to do more than that. The Chairman: Not in peaco time; but in , war time 1 think you can ask for pretty well anything you want. Captain Free asked why teachers, engineers, and other professions should not make a similar appeal on the, ground of public necessity. 1 Mr Cameron said tho answer was in Surgeon-general Henderson's appeal to tho medical students at tho beginning of the year, when ho told them that their duty to their country was to remain in their classea. Captain Free suggested that there were ample dentists remaaniug in the country to attend to tho needs of Uie community. The appellant said that tho dental students went along in a body and enlisted after Surgeon-general Henderson had told them their duty was to continue their course, bur-geon-general Henderson wished them to enlist it they desired to do so. Ho would not go away willingly now, because he had made all arrangements, andi had gone to considerable expense on the understanding that dental students were exempted. He had boen turned down as medically unlit. To Captain Free: It was with the intention of enlisting that the students went down to the recruiting office. The case was adjourned till January 8 to enable tho applicant to be medically examined in the meantime. Tho board also desired further information as to the condition of the dental profession in Dune din. the number enlisted, and tho number of qualified men employed as assistants and so on, NOT INDISPENSABLE. Ernest Hopewell, slaughterman, of Green Island, had an appeal entered on his bohalf by his employer, James Poland). Ho stated that ho was 22 years of age, and had been employed for four years at the City Abattoirs. He was living with his mother, and his brothers—Harold, aged 20 years, and Herbert, aged IS yeaas and a tister. He would like to enlist, but he never had enlisted. James Poland, manager of the Dunedin City Abattoirs on contract, said they were short of slaughtermen, and could not get them. They could not get them even at £1 a day. He did not know that appeals had to be sent in within 10 days, and had left it too late. Thero were 23 slaughtermen at the abattoirs. Tho Chairman: You will have to bring us very definite proof that these slaughtermen are necessary, because these men are wanted. We hear on every hand) of the shortage of ipen, and yet we see them hanging about the streets. If there is a sensational case in court the place is packcd. Witness said the work at tho abattoirs was constantly increasing. Tho Chairman said that in his arrangements witness would have to try to do away ■with single men and replace them by married men unfit or thoso over age. The appeal was dismissed. UNION COMPANY'S APPEAL. David Alexander Aiken, general manager of the Union Company, entered an appeal on behalf of Albert William Wheeler, inspector and stall superintendent. Mr C. G. White appeared for tho company. Mr Aiken said Mr Wheeler was the assistant to the general manager, and had very important duties. To hold that position a man must have worked right through the grades. The stall had been very depicted for somo I time. Tho management of the company had to' be concentrated in a very small circle owing to its intricate nature. As showing tho attitude of the company, 264 of its employees had gono to tho front, 'lhey were all receiving half-pay, and had their places kept open for them. This was tho only case in -which tho company had offered objection to any of its servants going. The company was doing a large amount of transport work lor tho Government, and this entailed a great deal of work. _ Mr Wheeler was the only reserve officer in tho traffic department, and ho took witness's placc as manager when witness was away. A third of tho company's tonnage was on national service. Mr Wheeler still wished to go to the front. The company had sot in over 100 temporary clerks and female clerks. He said confidence that Mr Wheeler's place ooulu not be filled. He conducted tho correspondence regarding transport service with tho head office of the Defence Department, at, Wei!" Tton. Captain Five said it would seem absurd to exempt seamen at sight and: yet send away the brain that controlled hundreds of them. Personally h™ uld not oppose the *Tho board expressed iho wi'h that Captain "HW should put himself into communication with the Defence Department, especially with reference to tho question 0i transports. Tho ease was ndionrn-od till January 8. WARTIME SACRIFICES. Lwrcnco Stewart Rank'n, machinist, 27 ▼oars of age. appealed on tho .ground of un-I-luo hp-rdfbip. He was parried on D-eeem-Ivr *0 19ifi and his wife was an invalid. I-Io was living with his wife's people. The Chairman: You know that, men marTied after May 1, 1915, were m the first division. Whv d'<l you get married >- Well it was 1:e this. They wero only lalkinsr about i. then. His wife s mother was 70 venn; of age, and her father /5 years, and ho did not know that they could look after his wife. Tho court did not c-tnsider thrro were pnflioinnt grounds of appeal, and dismesed St.in'ev Miftmrn, for whom Mr Allan appeared, appealed on tbe_ ground of hardship* to his widowed mother. Appellant stated that he was a painter, J) Voars of as®. He had six brothers, two married, two at the front .one going into romp, and one ap'd 18 years earning *.1 17, 6d a w-k. He 1-ved wrtn Jus motaer and a sit>r in «v rented hoy*e. When his brothers '.vent, away to tho war the arrangement t'«it ne. should stay and look after his mother. He pave her all his wss-es e-xoept ."s* week He would be qwte wihine-to ere if he was free. The board said that no undu* han.shro a-; meant bv the Act had been _ proved in the *e and thero wan no option but to

dismiss it- . , ~ Albert Fdwerd Power appea'od on ..no rroend of undue hardship to his mot.ier H P stated that hi* mother was 70 years of n<»o 'nd in good Wt!i. TPs ' "i< v <wo brothers were on active semcc. and he liar two married sisters—one in Maftorton aud one in x-w Plvmntrth. One brother went nwav in the Fifth Reinforcements and ono in the Seventh. Captain Fr'-e said tho group ofiico hart no record of the hrothers. The court said it had no option but to dismiss the appeal. James T/iird Prvfdale. cWk. appealed on tho groand of undue hardship. Appellant

stated that his father was 57 years of ago and suffered from rheumatism. His mother was 53 years of ago. lie had throo brothers, two with the Expeditionary Eorco and ono married for four or fivo years. Ho had two sisters, ono married and another younger one in servico. ITo earned £2 a week and gave £1 15s to his mother. The father said ho did not think it was time yet for the boy to bo called up, seoing his two brothers had grmo. Tho Chairman explained that all young men had to toko their chance in tho first ballot. 'ITiere was no option but to dismiss the appeal. TIME ALLOWED. James M'i'horson Jj'lejning appealed for temporary exemption to emuiie Uiiu to compioio Jivs term oi apprenticeship. Capta-m roe suggested that the appeal bo disuiiaod, tut; appellant to bo medically extunmed and grouted leave. 'Ihe appellant suited uiat his ternt of apprenticeship would expire on February 1. 'iho appelant was granted tno aa>uranco that ho would Jiot bo called up before lAjbruarv 2.

ilo.aeo Franklyn Kitt appealed for an extension of time to enable him to make necessary business arrangements. Appellant stated that ho came back to Dunedm in January, 19l;j. 110 was ,51 years oi age. Ho had had a pretty hard tune, and he thought thero wero others who ought to go first. Ho bad had to give up business through ioreign competition. Ho had a workshop, and tno point was, could ho get anyone to look alter it'.' All ho wanted was time to tram someone else to look after his business. lie did not mind going to tho war. He had been lor a considerable thus out of work. Tho Chairman: 1 wish 1 had been in your position. I would have jumped at it. Appellant (fervently): I wish you had. Continually, wituess said 110 was a lady's purse bag specialist.

Tho Cnairman: I'ou call it an essential industry?—lt's essential to mo. Ho did not go to the war because he did not see the chance of getting work when he came back. Appellant was starting to talk about the big fanners when ho was cut short by . tho chairman, who told him tho court knew all about tnat, and had not timo to listen to nonsense.

Captain Free said that if this man's position was a hardship then the position of any man having a business was a hardship.

'iho appeal was dismissed, appellant being informed that he would have a month to make arrangements.

Ernest Sainsbury, dairy farmer, of Upper Junction, appealed both on the grounds of undue hardship and that his going would be contrary to the public interest. Appellant stated that his brother had already Jeft with the Twelfth Reinforcements, and the farm was very shorthanded. It was leased by his brother, his brother-in-law, and himself. Ho had a married brother at Qucenstown, another married brother in the North Island, and a single brother aged 23 years. Ho had had the farm for over four years. To Captain Free: They usually kept a boy on the place, but boys did not care to get up so early in tho morning. His brother and ho tossed up as to who should goThe Chairman: And he won. Appellant said he had been trying for 12 months to sell out so that he would be free to go to the front. They had about 10 acres of turnips and six acres of oats. Tho board decided to adjourn tho case till the February sitting, appellant to seo what arrangements could be made. l J ercy diaries Nicol appealed on tho ground that his calling up wrw contrary to ttie public interest on account of his occupation as a collar maker, and also that two of his brothers had •enlisted and he was tho only adult male in the lamiiy to take charge of tho younger members. His employer, .Benjamin Hadfield, also entered an appeal on iNicol's behalf.

Appellant said his mother and father had both died last year. Ho had two brothers on active service, two unmarried brothers in tho railway servicc, a married brother with three of a- family at Mosgicl, and one at homo aged 15. years. He had two sisters at home and a cousin who had been adopted by his parents, liis business as a maker of collars for horses was essential to the food industry. 110 thought they put out about 1000 collars a year. To Captain Free: Ho was in charge of his younger brother and sister, and if ho went the homo would be broken up.

Benjaman Iladfield said he employed three men, and Nicol was his head man. He did not import collars. He _ could not get a married man to take Nicol's place. Collar makers -were very scarce—in fact unprocurable.

Tho Chairman explained that even if the appeal were allowed he did not want Mr Hadfield to go away thinking ho was safe. The single men would have to be " combed out" vet, and Nicol was single for the purposes of the act. Employers rpust set their house in order.

Tho board was of opinion that, this was not a case of undue hardship in timo of war. In regard to the employer's appeal, Mr Hadfield would have to make some other arrangements. The board proposed to give him two months to enable him to train one of his other men to J "ike I\icol's place. 'Hio ease was dismissed, appellant not to be called up until March 1. ADJOURNED FOR, MEDICAL EXAMINATION.

Tho appeal cf John M'Kowen (for whom Mr Lang appeared) was adjourned to enable the appellant, who was not in sound health, to bo medically examined. Daniel Edward Moffatfc appealed on the ground of undue hardship. Appellant said ho had been rejected by a doctor, lie was 31 years of age, and a factory hand at the PhcEnix Bakery, earning £1 12s 6d week. He lived at home with his mother, -who was 65 years of age. Ho had a married brother in Oamaru. He enlisted last September, and was turnsd down as medically unfit.—The case was adjourned till January 8 for medical examination. Charles Frederick Anning, bootmaker, appealed on the ground of undue hardship for domestic reasons. Appellant said he was married on August 4, 1915. He was not in very .good health. His employers (Sargood, Son. and Ewen) had put in an appeal on his behalf. —The caso was adjourned till January 3 to enable the appellant to be medically examined. DISMISSED.

Alexander Mathieson Sanderson, cattle

dealer, 23 years of age, appealed' for extension of time to arrange his business affairs. He said he had been in business for eight

years, and was in partnership with a man named Ings. Ho had from 450 to 480 cattle, and ho desired abont two months' time to dispose of them. Ho had bought a lot of cattle on forward delivery.—Tho appeal was

dismissed. James Stewart Rankin appealed on the ground of undue that would be caused to his mother and sisters if he wero

called up. Appellant stated that he was 42 years of ago, and a city tramway employee. Ho had, had to stay at home to let. his brother go to tho Boer war, and now his brother was away again. He had four sisters, two unmarried. His mother was in delicate health. Of his three brothers, one had gone to tho war, ono was married in Dunedin, and ono married on tho West Coast. Ho was the oaly one at home.—Tho Chairman: Can't you go?Appellant: Well, I suppose I could. It wonld mean breaking up tho home. —To Capfcain Free: 110 enlisted last April, but failed to return, as instructed, to see an eye specialist. Ho thought his brother enlisted from Taranaki. ITa was in tho Thirteenth Army Scrvieo Corps.—Tho appeal was dismissed. William Francis Doughertv asked for exemption from the first division to tho second. Appellant said he tor married on December 27, 1915.—The Chairman explained that the court had no power to transfer a man from one division to another, and could only dismiss the appeal. Ho would not bo called up till February. The appeals of Frederick Richard Mowbray (student), .Tames Dunlon Carnation (labourer). John Higgins (range fitter), and James Campbell Ireland (ceiling fixer), none of whom appeared, were formally dismissed. WITHDRAWN. The appeals of William James Ilarley (clerk, St. Kilda), John Edward WriVht (confectioner, Musselburgh), and TalvCrt Gordon Anderson (telegraphist) wero withdrawn.

SITTINGS AT WELLINGTON.

MAJORITY OF APPEALS DISMISSED

(Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, December 29.

Tho Military Servico Board continued its sittings to-day. William Elder Martin, seaman and waterside worker, appealed on the grounds of hardship. lie said he was a member of tho mercantile marine, and had been refused enlistment in the Motor Boat Patrol. Tho appeal was dismissed. Tho board reserved its decision in the caso of Harry Warner, a carpenter, heard in camera, the grounds rdvanced being unduo hardship owing to domeetic circumstances.

The following did not appear, and the appeals were dismissed: —William J. Bowden, jockey, of Otaki: Henry L. Kingan. horse trainer, of Trentham; James Littlebv, machinist, of Newtownj and Walter C. Smith, bootmaker, of WeDiagton,

William J. Koane, bar tender, withdrew his appeal. Richard Alee. Robertson and Thomas Charles Lloyd Cox had their appeals allowed, as they had been medically examined and declared unlit.

Application was made on behalf of Frederick Hugh Jiimieson, a fifth-year engineering apprentice, who was to sit for examination on April 1. The board dismissed the appeal, but the military representative undertook to secure exemption for Jamieson till April '!.