MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 46

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

APPEALS AT MASTERTON. MASTERTON, December 12. The Military Service Board resumed its sittings this morning. The appeal of Edward Matturin, labourer, of Martinborough on the grounds of undue hardship, was dismissed. The appeal of George Thomas Tinlcy, mill hand, of Carterton, on all grounds, except that of religious objection, was dismissed. Herbert James Freeman, paintc-r, -was granted exemption till the end of February. Exemption was granted to Roy Nix, farmer, of Paikvale, till March 31, on the grounds of occupation and undue hardship. In the case of Angus M'Master, farmer, of Matawhero, decision was deferred sino die, and exemption was granted in the meantime, provided the appellant remains in his present occupation. Frederick Dorset, farmer, of Te Whiti, was granted exemption till January 31; and John Moore, farmer, exemption till March 31. William J. Stewart, dairy farmer, of Konini, who has two brothers on active service, and who has charge of 70 cows, was granted exemption until March 31. William Fitzgerald, a railway employee, was exempted, on the ground that he is over military age. Decision in the case of James Allsop, dairy farmer, of Mangatainoka, who claimed that he was over military age, was reserved to enable him to produce his birth or marriage certificate. SITTING AT KAIAPOI. CHRISTCHURCH, December 12. The Military Service Board sat at Kaiapoi to-day to hear two appeals. Hethcrington Rioe and Leslie Puce, farmers, of Kaiapoi, appealed on the grounds of undue hardship. The evidence showed that the appellants were single, and worked a farm of 112 acres. J hey had financial obligations, and found it difficult! to get labour. The Chairman (Mr J. S. Evans. S.M.) remarked that the board had received a report stating that there was no scarcity of labour in the Canterbury Military District except in the sawmillmg trade 'in Nelson and the West Coast. Leslie Rice's appeal was dismissed, and that of Hetherington was adjourned till Leslie is medically examined. If Leslie is passed Hetherington's appeal will bo allowed. SITTING AT MASTERTON. MASTERTON, December 13. At a sitting of the Wellington Military Service Appeal Board to-day an appeal by Eric Foreman, ploughman and wagoner, under section 35 of the Military Service Act, was dismissed. An appeal by Norman Frederick Fore* man, stock manager, under the same section, was deferred; while the appeal of Robert George Foreman, farmer, was dismissed. An appeal by Albert Laurence Rose, far* mer, of Mangatainoka, was dismissed, while that of his brother, Gordon Foley Rose, farmer, was deferred. The board will return to Wellington tomorrow. CHAIRMEN IN CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON. December 15. At a conference to-night the Defence Minister, the chairmen of the Military Service Boards, and the military representatives appointed to deal with appeals diacussed at length the question of meeting the liabilities of soldiers and reservist 9 called up by ballot. They also _ considered, with a view to reaching uniformity of action, the question of what constitutes "undue hardship" and other points which have arisen in the course of the recent appeals. The Minister stated that, while no resolutions were adopted, the discussion would prove useful for the guidance of boards in, their work.