MILITARY APPEAL BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16229, 27 March 1917, Page 3

MILITARY APPEAL BOARD.

THE MINISTER'S CERTIFICATES. , / , (Per .Press Association.) V BLENHEIM, March 26. . At. the bearing of 'che appeal of Father Patrick ■ Fay by the Canterbury Military Appeal Board, a copy o£ a newspaper was produced containing a report of she Archbishop' appeal in respect of some priests in "Wellington, where the case was adjouned sine with the condition that the case should be reheard before the Second Division was called on. The chairman, Mr Evans, S.M., gave an important and far-reaching decision regarding Ministers' certificates. In this appeal he regretted that he could not follow entirely the decision o>f the Wellington Board. He did not consider that the Appeal Board could put _ any condition on the Minister's certificate, unless the evidence justified the Board over-riding the certificate. The' certificate, was prima facie sufficient evidence of hardship, and became conclusive evidence of hardship unless evidence to the contrary was adduced before' the Board. The duty of producing such evidence, if it existed, lay on (.he military authorities. If no such evidence was produced the certificate was sufficient evidence of bardsliip, and should be given effect to unqualifiedly. As a certificate had been issued in respect to this priest, tin's Board would act on it, as no evidence 'co the contrary had been brought before tlie Board. The appeal would bo adjourned sine die, without the connition imposed by the Wellington Board. .