TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14441, 30 October 1917, Page 6

TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY.

OPPORTUNITY FOR *NrEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. AX APPEAL. DISMISSED.' (Per Press Association.) * WELL-INGT*ON, last night. Tlie Military Service Board to-day continued the hearing of an appeal for exemption from military service lodged m tho name of Patrick Charl*& Webb, M.P. for Grey. Mr McCombs, ALP., represented the appellant and presented a petition from the electors of Grey praying f or Mi- Webb's retention. , John Arbuckle, secretary of the New Zealand Coal Miners' U nion, having given evidence, the chairman asked: "If Mr Webb resigned, do you think the miners would not be properly represented m Parliament?" *■■'■•'". Witness: I do . think so. . Mr. Webb has^ the confidence of the miners. Captain Baldwin (military representative) : Do yon suggest that Mt Webb is the only man m New Zealand who has the confidence of the miners"? Witness : Well, I would hardly go as far as that. The chairman pointed out that other occupations as important as minirtjj were not specially represented m Parliament, mentioning the seamen who followed perhaps the most hazardous calling of all. Witness: Well, I can tell yoii that only recently Mr Webb saved the country from a grave industrial crisis. Witness detailed the work carried out m I the mines by Mr Webb, when Captain Baldwin asked : '.'Are you appealing foi Mr Webb r as -.'a member of Parliament or as a miriinjj expert?" Witness: Both. Replying to further questions, witness I said that, if they had a man'in'Parliament'with 1 Mr Webb's -knowledge oi mining they would be content, but "th< difficulty ; was that though men with that knowledge were available . none possessed the confidence of the rest of . the men sufficiently. . . \- x At . thlis. point the Board considered ! it. desirable that Mr. Webb should attend" personally to sa,V if he Wdiild en--1 gage m nn essential industry during ike ; recess. ' .".-.; J Appellant did not appear and the case ; was adjourned, y .On the resumption of the hearing. Mr McCombs stated" that Mr rWebbff personal, appeal would bo withdrawn. "Mr : Webb had been reluctant to appeal "in' person. Mr McCombs read the following' telegram from Denniston, whicn, i ho said, gave a good idea of the con- . tents of other telegrams.- received : — j '"Minors appeal for exemption from m'ili- ■ taiy services. P. O. Webb. It is impera- ; five we should liave one practical miner to -represent miners m House." The Oinirman : Are a man's conRtituentfi lifs employers?: Mr McOombsr: Strictly speaking, perI haps not. hut the case is on a level with i a case where a district appeals for a doctor. | Mr M'cOombs said he did not like tc .think Mr Webb was less essential thar a jjnliceman or a minister of religion, j The Chairman : May we take it thai as 1 far as Mr -WebK himself is concerned, he is quite willing to go? j Mr McCombs: Well,!' may say thai Mr Webb was yery- anxious to. organise that Tunnelling Corps that went away, Chairman: There may be - an op poi'tunity- for him yet. The war may not be over for a long while. Frank Reed, Chief Inspector of Mines called by Captain Baldwin,- :was; askeci if he had disregarded recommendation! regarding the safety of miners. • He re plied that life had never done so. Almosl invariably he had supported recommen 1 dations by the inspectors. • Captain Baldwin : Has the D.epartmeni sufficient* oompetent officers to look tx - the- safety of 'mfriiers irfithout the assist ance of Mr Webb? Witness: Toonsider our inspectors ar< competent, oUierwise ihey would hot b< 1 where they are; Captain Baldwin' : Are they men oi practifcal expcfriencet — Yes. iy Replying to- a further l q_estion, wit ness said: "I say Mr Webb is. an ex I perienced man with a 'thorough 'i know ledge of mining-, and he is a?" useful mai i to have m the House. Ido not say th< . safety of mines will be jeopardised i I ■ Mr Webb goes away, but I say he is s valuable aid to the Department m mm 1 ing matters." There was no further evidence, and, after consideration by the Board, the chairman announced y "WevSee no reason for granting exemption.' The appea! will be dismissed,, and he will be grant- ' ed leave till December 12." -_ _____