MILITARY APPEALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25135, 28 January 1943, Page 4

MILITARY APPEALS

A REMARKABLE REQUEST LABOUR NOMINEE ASKED FOR REPORT (P.A.) GISBORNE, Jan. 27. At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday attention was called to a published report that the Gisborne Trades and Labour Council had requested Its representative on the Armed Forces Appeal Board to attend a meeting of the council to report on cases heard by him. In regard to one specific case, it was decided to ask for a rehearing, and, in the event of an adverse decision, to communicate with the Minister of Defence.

Mr L. T. Burnard, who brought the matter up, said the report indicated the establishment of the practice of a member of the Appeal Board attending meetings of the Trades and Labour Council and reporting on cases heard by the board—a disclosure in effect by a member of a court of matters heard by it. It appeared to indicate an intention to interfere with the functions of the Appeal Board.

It was decided to forward a copy of the report to the Associated Chambers with the request that it should take appropriate action to safeguard the confidential character of judicial proceedings and prevent interference by outsiders with appeal boards.