§ 79. Mr. WINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will issue instructions taking away the right of the military representative on tribunals granting on his own personal responsibility exemptions, as such action on the part of military representatives is causing much dissatisfaction, thus guaranteeing all cases to be heard by the tribunals and the tribunals only being responsible for exemptions?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe only case in which a military representative can cause a certificate of exemption to be issued without the matter coming before the local tribunal is when a voluntarily attested man is shown to the satisfaction of the military representative to be actually employed in a certified occupation. If an application is made to the recruiting officer for exemption in such a case it is referred to the military representative for advice. If there is any doubt as to the man's usual and principal occupation or whether it is necessary in the national interests that he should continue in civil employment, the question is referred to the local tribunal 1191 for decision. I am not aware that this procedure (which was adopted to save not only tribunals but employers and voluntarily attested men, unnecessary trouble in clear cases) has caused any dissatisfaction, and, as at present advised, I do not see any reason for its alteration.