MATTERS REGARDING EXEMPTIONS

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11367, 13 October 1917, Page 4

MATTERS REGARDING EXEMPTIONS

By Telegraph—Special to Manawatu Times. 4 WELLINGTON, Last Night. “We ought to have something hy right, something on the Statute Book,” declared Mr Okoy at the end of some questioning about decisions of the Military Service Boards regarding farmers’ exemptions. “We can’t depend on the Boards; take it out of their hands, ’ ’ added the Taranaki member. The Minister of Defence immediately declared ho would not suggest amending the Act in that direction. It was for the House to say what it wanted and he as Minister would try to carry it out.

JSlv J. Findlay: ‘‘ Why not set up an Appeal Board?" Sir James Allen; “I don’t think an Appeal Board would be much use," Tho Minister, in reply to other questions, remarked that the Military berviee Boards upon inquiry into apparently bad cases of hardship often found there was more, than one side to the question, and tho Minister quoted examples of such cases. While squatters and shepherds arc being considered, what is the position of the waterside workers? asked Mr Poole, who spoke of a watersider having to lose a week's job through having to wait for medical examination.

Sir AllciUdcclared he resented any suggdwion that there was the slightest distinction made between the squatter and the wharf labourer. Anyone who lost time while attending tho Medical Board would bo paid for it.