BARRISTER AIR FORCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 22968, 11 August 1944, Page 4

BARRISTER AIR FORCE

Employed As Signals Clerk Release Recommended (N.Z.P.A.) AUCKLAND. Aug. 10. “A boy of 15 could do what I am doing in the Air Force,” said Harry Rosen, aged 31, barrister and solicitor, when an application for his release from the Royal New Zealand Air Force was considered by the Armed Forces Appeal Board. The appeal for his release was lodged by the legal firm of Meredith, Meredith, Kerr and Cleal, by whom Rosen was employed before his enlistment. Mr Cleal, who appeared in support of the application, said that before joining the Air Force the reservist had been engaged in assisting the Crown Prosecutor, Mr V. R. Meredith, and there were legal problems involved in the work in which only a few solicitors were qualified and experienced. Rosen was one of those persons. The Crown Prosecutor’s work had greatly increased as a result of the war. and concern was felt for his health. He and his staff had been required to work inordinately long hours, and it had been necessary to enlist the help of other firms, but this had not proved satisfactory. "Even so we would not apply for Rosen's release if he were doing useful work in the Forces,” added Mi’ Cleal. In giving evidence on his own behalf. the reservist said he had trained in Canada as an observer and later served in England as a sergeant-

observer. In October of last year he was repatriated back to New Zealand after being grounded for medical reasons, and in spite of the training he had had was now being employed as a signals clerk. In answer to a question, Rosen said his duties merely involved entering up signal messages in a register and it could be done by anyone. He was on duty from 7.50 a.m. to 5 p.m.. but was called cn to do only about three hours of work a day. An inspection of his station had been carried out recently bv the Armed Forces Investigation Committee, and he understood that it had recommended sweeping changes. The Board decided to recommend the reservist’s release.