MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 17937, 31 January 1917, Page 5

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

WELLINGTON CASES.

(Per United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, January 30. At the sitting of the Military Service Board to-day the difficulties under which the slaughtering trade is being worked owing to the shortage of labour were emphasised by the secretary of the Slaughtermen s Union. In one case the proprietors of meat works actually paid the fares of men from Melbourne to Sydney, Sydney to Wellington, and Wellington Wanganui. Under such an arrangement 27 men arrived last week. An undertaking had been given that the Australians would not come under the ballot, and would not replace conscripts. The New Zealand works are all very short-handed. The appeals were adi'tSixtt&d sine die. The appellants to repprtr'Tegularly to the military authorisimilar decision was come to in the case of a pig butcher.

AT AUCKLAND,

AUCKLAND, January s§.

At the Military Service Appeal Board to-day the appeal for exemption by Har--old- Wrighton on the ground that he was a member of the Society of Friends was adjourned till the Government intiniaies what kind of alternative service it will accept. John Hamilton, master mariner, era--1 ployed by the Devonport Ferry Co., ap- ! pealed on the grounds of public interest j and also undue hardship. Mr Allison, | manager of the company, in his evidence, fstatecl that the appellant was one of the ! few men classe din the superior grade, I and could not be easily replaced. Calling | him up would mean the lying up of the i ferry boat with the result of inconvenience to the public. The company could not get men. The case was adjourned for six months, the chairman remarking that there was a great shortage of seamen, and on such steamers as those in the ferry service, it was necessary that a competent man should be in charge. The Board did not feel justified in taking such men as appellant at present.

AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

NEW PLYMOUTH, January 30.

Twenty appeals were heard before the first Wellington Service Board to-day. The appellants were chiefly farmers, who appealed on the grounds of undue hardships. The appeal of a conscientious objector was dismissed on the ground that the Brethren as a body did not object. The appeals of the others were dismissed, with varying terms of yeave.

The vagaries of the ballot were demonstrated in the case of Leonard F. Hamblyn, aged 20, whb said that he had five brothers at the front, one of whom was missing! The military representative expressed appreciation of the hardship in such a case, which, however was not a ground for appeal. The appeal of William Aich, 46 years and married, with a large family, was allowed on the grounds that he was not a reservist.

UNION SECRETARY’S PROTEST.

WELLINGTON, January 30.

Mr C. Grayndler, secretary of the Agricultural and Pastoral Workers’ Union, forwarded a letter to the Minister of Defence, announcing that in future he will act for shearers, for whom he bad already applied for exemption. Mr Grayndler says that as the Military Service Board to-day adjourned the shearers’ appeals for fourteen days, and decided to summon appellants to appear personally before the boards in their respective districts, he cannot appear for any other than those heard in Wellington. Mr Grayndler states that he is Instructed by his organisation to protest against the personnel of the Board, insofar as the great majority of rural workers are not represented thereon, and members are not getting a fair deal according to the provisions of the Act. Further, that the Labour representatives appointed do not directly represent the workers of the dominion.