§ 31. Mr. ANDERSONasked the President of the Local Government Board whether Mr. E. Halliwell, a married man, who broke his collar-bone two days before his case should have been heard by the Stoke Tribunal, sent his doctor's certificate with a letter asking for adjournment which was refused, the case being decided in his absence against him; that on inquiry of the clerk, Mr. Sharpley, he was informed that the letter and medical certificate were placed before 'he tribunal when his case was being considered, and that the chairman of the tribunal, Mr. T. Thornton, subsequently informed him that the letter and the certificate were not produced at the tribunal, which had no knowledge of the reason for his absence; and will he say whether, in view of the action of the clerk, the rehearing of the case will be ordered?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERMy right hon. Friend is informed that no statement such as is attributed to the chairman has been made, and that the chairman has not had any communication with Mr. Halliwell since the tribunal heard his case.
§ 32. Mr. MORRELLasked the President of the Local Government Board whether Mr. G. W. Riley, of 95, Benwell Road, Holloway, an ex-Territorial, applied for exemption before the Islington Local Tribunal in ignorance of the fact that he was an exception under the provisions of the first Act; that he was refused exemption by that tribunal and did not appeal to the Appeal Tribunal owing to the fact that he had discovered that he was an exception; that he applied again to the local tribunal on the 23rd June, having come under the provisions of the second Military Service Act, and was refused a second hearing, with the result that he has lost his right of appeal to the Appeal Tribunal; and whether, seeing that Mr. Riley was handed over to the military authorities on the 23rd instant, he will instruct the Islington Local Tribunal to rehear the case as soon as Mr. Riley has obtained leave of the Army Council?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERThe facts do not appear to be as stated in the hon. Member's question. My right hon. Friend is informed that G. W. Riley applied for exemption on conscientious grounds on the 25th February; that he did not state that he was an ex-Territorial, that his application was refused, and that he then appealed to the Appeal Tribunal, who dismissed the appeal. Subsequently he made another application, again on conscientious grounds, and beyond merely stating on his application form that he was an ex-Territorial and did not come under the previous Act appears to have given no explanation for the second application. On the evidence before him my right hon. Friend is not prepared to intervene in the matter.