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ABERGAVENNY BOROUGHI TRIBUNAL.

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ABERGAVENNY BOROUGH I TRIBUNAL. I 34 CASES ON THENLIST, t CONDITIONAL EXEMPTIONS RENEWED. I A sitting of the Abergavenny Borough Tri- tunal, the first since recruiting has been in the hands of the National Service Department, was i held on Thursday evening in last week, when there were 34 cases on the list. Of these, how- t:ver, two had joined up and two had been re- jected so their cases did not need consideration. The Mayor (Aid. Z. Wheatley) presided, and there were also present Councillors G. R. Plow- man, Alfred Graham, J. R. Beckwith. Dr. Glendinning, and Mr. Alfred Edwards. The National Service Representative was Capt. H. Williams, of Newport. A Batch of Conditional Exemptions. -1 Ten cases of employees of Messrs. Seargeant Bros. were first taken in private, on the applica- tion of the managing director. The men s ages were given as from 27 to 39. and after hearing the facts of the cases and of the position of the firm's business, it was decided to renew the con- ditional exemptions in nine cases and to give temporary exemption for six weeks in the other. Shop Manager Who Must Repair Boots. 1 L 4 The next case dealt witli was tnat ot a manager cf a boot shop, aged 40, grade 2. Mr. Cunliffe, for the applicant, said that the case was dealt with some time ago with a batch of others belonging to the same firm at Reading, and con- citional exemption was granted. This man had to do the majority of the boot repairs himself. Capt. Williams How many pairs of boots did you repair this week ?—About ten. Who looks after the shop while you are re- pairing boots ?-A young lady assistant. Capt. Williams said that a skilled man of this kind was needed in the Army for boot repairing. A young woman or girl could manage a boot business of this kind, so far as selling and fitting of boots was concerned, and it was being done in every town throughout the country. It did not require a grade 2 man to manage a boot shop. Mr. Cunliffe said that when the application vas made at Reading there were 44 men em- ployed by the firm, of whom 27 had joined up. four were rejected, 10 were over age, and three were granted conditional exemption on the understanding that no ap"peal was made for the 27. This man was 41, was married and had three children. He was doing quite as much in the interests of the- nation as he would be in the Army. Capt. Williams said that the conditional ex- t mption was withdrawn at Reading and tem- porary exemption to the 1st of January last was substituted. The man was not fully employed to the best of his ability, and he was spending more than half his time on work which could be ) r g i I He aske d that Cone by a young woman or girl. He asked that the man be required to devote the whole of his time to boot repairing, so that the older man who was employed in boot repairing at the same shop could be released to help another firm who were shorthanded Conditional exemption was granted on con- dition that the man devotes the whole ot his time to boot repairing. Too Old Two Years Ago ? Mr. Iltyd Gardner appeared for a plumber, gas fitter and house decorator, whose age was given as 42. Mr. Gardner said that in ID 16 the man tried to join up, but was refused, being told that he was too old. Thinking he would not be troubled any further, he took additional premises and fresh contracts. A couple of years after- wards, when the man was nearly 43, he was asked to join. It was one of the most unfair things he ever heard of. Capt. Williams (to respondent) Can you tell me the name of he officer who told you that you c-,uld go about your business ?—No. Can you describe him in appearance r-Xo. Can you tell me where it was ?—In the Corn Exchange here. Capt. Williams (to Mr. Gardner) Whatever was said to him by someone in the Corn Ex- change in 1916, you know that he is liable for military service. Mr. Gardner I do not. Capt. Williams Do you mean to say that the statement of any officer, even if he were a general, that he is not liable for military service is binding ? Mr. Gardner I think it is very binding, when a man takes a new shop and undertakes con- re j ected bv you. A tracts because he has been rejected by you. A more unfair thing I can't imagine. Councillor Graham Has he been examined at all ? Mr. Gardner No, he was refused and he was never asked to be examined. Capt. Williams said that the man ought to be medically examined, end the case was adjourned for this purpose. Too Busy To Join The Volunteers. I Mr. Gardner aiSo appeared for a greengrocer (_iS) whose case was brought forward because he had failed to comply with the condition of the Tribunal that he must join the Volunteer Regt. Mr. Gardner said that he was a Ci man, and upon his appeal the Tribunal gave him con- ditional exemption. They did not mention the matter of joining the Volunteers while he was there. If they had done so he would have dealt with it then, and it might have saved this trouble. When his client got his notice of ex- emption two or three days later he was surprised to find that it contained a condition-which it was well within the power of the Tribunal to iinpose--tliat he was to join the Volunteers The reason that he was classed Ci was that he was quite unfit for marching or drilling. He could not possibly do physical drill or take part in route marches. To increase his difficulties, his father, who was a very old man, got worse and worse in health and he had to manage with- out his assistance in the business. Capt. Williams (to respondent) Have you any objection to joining the Volunteers ?-I haven't much time. Have you any time ?—Very little. I have to attend to the garden as well as the business. Do you do digging ?—Yes. In the serious condition your solicitor has described ? Does your complaint ever trouble you ?-Yes, if I keep on too long. You are a grade 2 man. Have you any ob- jection to joining the Volunteers ?-I have no time. You tell the Tribunal that you won't accept t -eir condition that you should join the Volun- teers ? -I leave it to the Tribunal. Capt. Williams I am asking you to assist the Tribunal. If the regimental doctor says that you are not fit for the Volunteers there is an end of it, but you haven't been to see. Councillor Graham said that the condition was imposed subject to certain conditions laid down by the Tribunal with regard to the number of drills, and if those conditions were not ac- cepted they decided to take no further action in the matter. The Mayor said that this was not one of those cases. j The conditional exemption was renewed subject to respondent being medically examined and joining the Volunteers, if fit. An auctioneer applied for his assistant, aged tS, and said that two of his staff had joined the colours and there was only a boy of 14 left besides. In view of the important work he had k do in connection with agricultural matters -.•id food production, if he lost his assistant he would have to resign his membership of the food Production Committee. Capt. Williams said that this case was already free months overdue, and the young man should have been sent down for medical ex- amination before coming to the Tribunal. Applicant said that he was not aware of the t rocedure. < The case was adjourned for medical examin- ation. To Take an Allotment. -J 4-t.. Mr. John Moxon, Newport, appeareu 101 liic partner in a grocery business who had been dis- charged from the colours after 44 days' service. He was now placed in Grade 3. Mr. Moxon said that owing to failing health t/.e father could not take the same part in the business as he did formerly. He put in the discharge paper showing that applicant was suffering from v.d.h. It was decided to renew the conditional ex- emption. Capt. Williams said he thought that the Tri- bunal might impose a condition that applicant t)-ina l might itn,)os?- must do some work of national importance at Abergavenny. Mr. Moxon "pointed out that it was rather in- c'nsitent to imoose such a condition, seeing tmat applicant had L exempted on his medical t ndition. It was suggested that applicant should cul- tivate an allotment, aud eventually he agreed tc try. No Time for Drilling. I The case of another greengrocer was brought forward, on the ground that he had failed to comply with the condition that he should join the Volunteer Regiment. The Mavor Why haven't you joined ? Respondent I have no time to drill. What with gardening and getting the produce in, my time is occupied. Capt. Williams Have you any objection to trv to become an efficient member of the Volun- teer Regiment ?—I have not time. I am going to ask you to join the Army if you don't do something for your country. You might have been sent to the Army without the Tribunal being informed, because you have broken your condition. You must make some little sacriifce.—-Well, I have taken extra land on. Will you comply with the condition, or do you want the Tribunal to, order it ?—I can't do any other. Do you cultivate vour allotment on Sundays ? —No. Capt. Williams I ask the Tribunal to renew the condition, and if he does not comply we will have to ask you to take strict measures. Respondent was told that he must join the Volunteer Regiment. Councillor Graham If you don't comply you are out of our jurisdiction and come within their power. In the case of the Borough Surveyor, the Clerk said that some time ago he appealed, un- successfully, at the County Tribunal for the Surveyor's right-hand man, and there was no one else left in this department. The conditional exemption was renewed. I Unfit, But Efficient. A number of cases were reviewed on the ground that the men were no longer in a certified occupa- tion. In the case of a young man who had been classed high at the time of the criticism of the Medical Board, but who was exempted by the Tribunal on his medical history, the Mayor ex- plained to Capt. Williams that his medical history, extending over some years, was well known to the members of the Tribunal, who were convinced that he was not fit for military service. He had, however, tried to join the Army on two or three occasions. He was a member of the Volunteers and took the highest points for musketry in the county, and he was also a Cadet officer. Capt. Williams said that there had been a good many similar cases where the classification was wrong, but the difficulty was that this man was down in the books as Class A, and his registration age being 22, the authorities pressed for such cases to be brought up. not knowing the circumstances. He suggested that the man should have another medical examination in order to put the matter right. This being agreed to by .the respondent and the Tribunal, the case was adjourned for the purpose. I Allotment Holders. A monotype operator, whose registration age was 40, and who said he cultivated over a quarter of an acre of allotment, was given a renewal of his conditional exemption. A hairdresser's assistant, who had been re- jected for the Volunteers, and who said that he had three allotments, also had his conditional exemption renewed. An officer of a local authority, who were not appealing, asked for a month to arrange his domestic and private affairs, and the case was adjourned for a special medical report. A partner iu one of the oldest established grocery businesses in town said that the business would have to be closed if he went. His father was not able to do much work in connection with the business. Respondent was a member of the Volunteers and in Grade 3. The conditional exemption was renewed. An undertaker, also in the Volunteers and classed Grade 3, was similarly dealt with. Feeding the Little Towns." I. I -? I ine case or a porK Duccner anu oacon curer was reviewed because he had not joined the Volunteer Regiment. The Mayor Why haven't you joined ?-I fell ill and was sent for a certificate, and Dr. Tatham said I was unfit and Dr. Foley said I was unable to do the drilling. Capt. Williams Provided the doctor says you are fit, are you prepared to go ?—Yes. Respondent, who has four children and is in Grade 2, said in reply to further questions I am working from 5 o'clock in the morning, and we are doing what we can to send food away to the little towns in the neighbourhood where they have no food-sausage and that. Capt. Williams He has treated the order of the Tribunal with indifference. Councillor Graham If an employer dismisses a man who is requested to drill with the Volun- teers and employs an older man, can we deal with him ? I am not referring to this particular case, but it may happen. The Mayor I think we can deal withanyone who boycots a man. The exemption was renewed without con- ditions. It They Were All Like This. I A widow living at Dorstone applied tor a son aged 18. Grade A, who is employed as a grocer's assistant at Abergavenny. She said she had four sons in the Army, and asked for this one to be left to her. Capt. Williams said that the record of the family was a splendid one, and if all families were like this there would be no need for tri- bunals. The mother was not dependant on this young man, however, as he only went home occasionally. The mother asked if her son could be sent to the munition works at Hereford. Capt. Williams said that suggestion would cause more trouble than it was worth at a time when young men were being combed out of the munition works. It might cause a good deal of dissatisfaction if people saw a young man like that in a munition works and did not know the circumstances. The Tribunal granted conditional exemption and Capt. Williams said he would place the facts before the Ministry and ask for a ruling, so that it would be a guidance to tribunals in the future. Collier Turns Insurance Agent. I The assistant superintendent of an insurance company, B 3, aged 25 on registration, said that national insurance work was equally as im- portant as any other clerical work which lie might be put to by the military authorities. In reply to questions, he said that he was a collier up to 1912, but gave up that work on medical advice, because of defective hearing. He had resigned his position twice to join up, but on medical examination was told that he was not required. In reply to Capt. Williams, applicant said that he had a young brother who was a collier and was about 18. Temporary exemption for three months was granted to see whether the brother joins up or not. Applicant said he did not want to shelter behind his brother, and he wanted it thoroughly understood that he did not desire exemption at his brother's expense. The Town Clerk, in the case of a clerical assistant engaged in registration and other work said that he proposed to join the Artists' Rifles as soon as possible, and if he was not called up for a month it would meet the case. This was agreed to. A clothier's assistant, aged 18, was appealed for as the sole support of a widow. Another son was in the Army. The case was adjourned for medical examination. Father Killed In Action. I In the case ot a van driver, aged lb, it was stated that his father was killed in action on February loth. He was the only son working, and there were three children at home younger than him. The Mayor said that the young man's father was over age, but volunteered. Applicant was ordered to be medically ex- amined and to come before the Tribunal at the next sitting. A licensed victualler, aged 42, said he had not been examined since May, 1916. Capt. Williams Are you a member of the Volunteers ?-No. You have plenty of time ? (Laughter).—I can't get off. That is the only time we have to earn our living. Applicant, who had said he suffered from rheumatism, stated that he had an allotment. Capt. Williams How will you manage that if you get rheumatism ?-I shall have to get someone to help me. Dr. Glendinning It will do it good. The conditional exemption was renewed. Sympathy with Dr. Glendinning. The Mayor referred to the bereavement sus- tained by Dr. Glendinning in the loss of his son in action. The Town Council had already ex- pressed their sympathy, and he thought that they as a Tribunal should express their sym- pathy to their fellow member in the loss of his only son. He proposed that they place on record their sympathy with Dr. and Mrs. Glen- dinning and Mrs. Phillips on the loss they had sustained. Councillor Plowman seconded the proposition, which was carried, and Dr. Glendinning returned thanka.

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