AN UNFORTUNATE MISTAKE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16309, 10 August 1917, Page 5

AN UNFORTUNATE MISTAKE.

DISCHARGED FROM CAMP AND CLASSED AS DESERTER. The military authorities (presumably those in Wellington), recentLy issued instructions to the military authorities in Timaru to secure for medical examination, A. E. Moir. They have now succeeded in nunvng their quarry to earth, though Mr Moir was never in hiding and had no knowledge of the faqfc that he was ■•wanted." Had he heen aware of the fact that his presence was desired he would have reported to the authorities. The facts of the case have been represented to us as follows :

Mr Moir, who is a married man, livmg at Green Island, was working at St. Andrews when the February ballot was taken, and his name was drawn in it. Timaru being the nearest Defence Office he lost no time in report T ing here. Ho was medically examined in Timaru, passed as fit, and given a presentation at bt. Andrews, prior to going into camp. After remaining in <amp for three weeks he was told that he was unfit for service, and that he should never have been sent to camp. The camp authorities accordingly gave him his discharge, and he returned home to Green Island. His loss of time and travelling expenses co=fc him about £3O. Recently in Timaru. Mr Moir's address was obtained hy an officer, and presumably he will by this time he in receipt of a letter instructing him to again report- to the Defence authorities. Prior to being passed in Timaru as medically fit he had been refused admission to a Lodge, on the ground that he could not pass the medical test. It should bo added that Mr Moir was drawn in the list of Otago men, and only reported hero be'ause he was working a few miles south of Timaru at the t"mo. It does not therefore appear that there was -•vny fault on the" port of the. military authorities in Timaru.