§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the President of the Local Government Board if he will 1060W give instructions to the Worsborough Local Tribunal that an applicant for exemption from the Military Service Acts is entitled to take a friend to state his case, seeing that this tribunal refused to permit Frank Pickering, whose name was down for hearing on 20th June, to be represented by a Friend?
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will inquire into the case of two conscientious objectors named J. Polishuk and A. Cohen, attached to a Labour Battalion, who have been sentenced to fourteen days' detention for refusing to obey orders and whose request for a district court-martial has not been granted; and will he see that these men are allowed their rights under the Army Regulations in this respect?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIf my hon. Friend will furnish me with the regimental numbers of these soldiers, I will have inquiry made.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Minister of National Service if he will add to the cases into which he is inquiring, which have been passed by the Blackburn Medical Board, that of a man who on 14th June was passed Grade 2 though he was suffering from severe dropsy, his legs being swollen to twice the normal size, and though he produced a medical certificate that he had been under medical treatment for the last eighteen months, and who on being called to the Colours on 4th July was at once put in hospital owing to his serious condition?
§ Sir A. GEDDESYes, Sir.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Minister of National Service if he will have immediate inquiry made into the action of the local representative of his Department at Huntley Street, Aberdeen, who has sent several calling-up notices to Alexander Scroggie, 9, Sinclair Street, Torry, Aberdeen, although this man holds a protection card as an iron moulder and has also an application for exemption on conscientious grounds before the tribunal; and, seeing that the Proclamation making a clean cut under twenty-five specially exempts those holding protection cards, will he see that the calling-up notice in this ease is withdrawn and the local representative is properly instructed in his duties?
1061W
§ Sir A. GEDDESYes, Sir; I will have inquiries made.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Minister of National Service why Norman Taylor, of 111, Bottomgate, Blackburn, aged eighteen, on the 13th June, 1918, and who was taken and passed Grade 2 on 20th June, and immediately sent into the Army and attached to the Manchester Regiment, was given no opportunity of appealing either against his medical grading or on any of the grounds of claim under the Military Service Act, has not been released yet from the Army; and will he see that there is no further delay, and that the man is returned to civil life immediately?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI regret that the result of the inquiries has not yet reached me. The case is being investigated along with others at Blackburn which have been brought to my notice by the hon. Member. I am endeavouring to expedite the inquiry, and will communicate with the hon. Member.