MILITARY SERVICE BOARDS

Otago Witness, Issue 3292, 18 April 1917, Page 23

MILITARY SERVICE BOARDS

SITTING AT DUNEDIN. The First Otago Military Service Board sat in Duuedin on the 12th; present—Messrs 11. Y. Widdowson, S.M. (chairman), A. D. Bell, ancPE. Kellott. Captain Free was the military representative. The board heard further evidence m support of the appeal by Irvine and Stevenson, on behalf of William Clark Fyfe, manager for the company at Auckland.—Mr C. J. Payne appeared for the company.—After consideration, the board decided to dismiss the appeal; but the reservist would not b 9 called tip until May 28, when a draft would leave Auckland. The appeals of Frank Hayes and John O'Halloran Hayes (farmers, Moonlight), who were called under section 35, were partly heard at Palmorston lately. Frank Haves has since been medically examined and classed C2.—The Chairman said that Frank Hayes had now withdrawn his appeal, ' and' tinder the circumstances ( his brother did not come under section 35. The brother's appeal was therefore allowed. The board* will sit at Alexandra on Thursday, at 4.30 p.m. ; and at Ranfurly on Friday, at 1 p.m.

POSITION OF MARIST BROTHERS. CHRISTCHURCII. April 14. Before the Canterbury Military Service Board to-day, Bishop Brodie appealed on behalf of James Les Tracy and James Edliuind Butler, Marist Brothers teachers. The Minister had not issued certificates in these eases, but the chairman of the board said that they would not_ depart from their precedent of adjourning the cases sine die. , Captain Spratt said that since the last case the position had been somewhat altered as messages from England said that their exemptions to religious workers hud heen terminated owing to the need for men. Captain Spratt pointed out that all the argument advanced for Marist Brothers' Schools applied also to the State schools: On the point of the vows which were made, Captain Spratt asked where the difference lay between anti-militarists who vowed they would not go into camp and Marist Brother's teachers who made- a vow that they would

devote their lives to teaching; or between a Quaker who made the same religious vow and a Marist Brother teacher?

. The Chairman (Mr H. W. Bishop. StM.j said his view was that .the anti-militarists vow was an individual one, while the other was made publicly and with the discipline of the church behind it. Bishop Brodie agreed that public vows made by any person should bo equally binding, and entitled those making them to be placed on the same footing. Mr Bishop: " Well they won't be put on the same footing by this board. I can tell you that we would have every antimilitarist in tho country coming herfe and saying that he had made a vow." Mrßishop said that tho matter had been considerably on his mind. _ and at a conference of chairmen of military boards, to be held on April 27, he intended bringing this matter up and asking for a definitesettlement of tho policy to bo adopted toward Marist Brothers. His own opinion was that these men shordd receive exemption, but other members did not think so, and they should havo uniformity. The cases were adjourned till after tho conference.

AUSTRALIAN'S APPEAL. ' AUCKLAND, April 12.

A young man, a native of Australia, named Frank Kelly, a ship's oook, who was called up in the ballot, appealed before the First Auckland Board to-day on the ground that ho had filled in his enrolment form at; a New Zealand port of arrival. He said the ship was under sealed orders, and ha did not know that he was coming to New Zealand. He had been hero since early in March, and was unabie to leave with any vessel, owing to beincr called up. He enlisted twice in Australia, where seamen were exempt. He now found himself, an Australian subject, a New Zealand conscript. The board granted exemption, provided h. 5 remained in his present occupation, and gave him a certificate to that effect. POSITION OF THE BOOT TRADE. AUCKLAND, April 13. The Military Service Board, at the r&. quest of the Defence Department, .Granted a rehearing of the appeal of George Thos. Rogers, a boot trade employee, employed by Messrs Adam Moore (Ltd.), who was granted an extension of time, to show that the boot trade could release more men of the First Division for active service. Major Conlon said it was evident that one big firm could handle all the military ' boot work in New Zealand. He was going i to suggest, on instructions received, that ! there were eligible men doing private ; work for employers who could very well be : spared. A lot of hijrh-pricod and unneces- ! sary boots were being manufactured for 1 women to the disadvantage of the military j authorities. Never before had their been ! finch extravagance, especially in women's i footwear, owing to the shortness of skirts. '; I; should bo known that boots for this ! purpose were being made costing £3 10s, and more. Evidence was siren by a leading b~" J s '

manufacturer that no boot operators belonging to the First Division were indispensable, as others could easily bo taught to fill their places. He previously employed the man whoso oaso was under review, and found no difficulty in teaching an apprentice, who was doing the work satisfactorily. , . The board regretted the previous decision, but did not rcverso it, as the extension of time granted to the appellant would expiro this month.