H.—lla

B. ARMED FORCES APPEAL BOARDS During the period under review in this report there has been a progressive falling off in the normal work of the Armed Forces Appeal Boards. The numbers of men now being called up by ballot for service in the Armed Forces are limited almost exclusively to the inflow of young men at age eighteen. These youths are not subject to full-time mobilization until they attain age twenty, and the percentage of appeals is consequently low. A further aspect which has assisted in reducing the work of the Boards has been that, for the past twelve months, Army mobilization has been substantially restricted to Grade I men between the' ages of twenty and forty inclusive. The normal work of the Boards has therefore been confined almost entirely to the review of appeals. This, in turn, has been restricted, particularly in respect of appeals affecting farm-workers. (It was decided at the commencement of the productive season that, in view of the high priority of primary production, little purpose could be served by proceeding with the systematic review of farming oases. Only to a very limited extent, therefore, have these cases been the subject of attention by the Boards during the past six months.) A material addition to the work of the Boards arose during the latter months of 1943 in consequence of the decision to mobilize temporarily for agricultural and other work a substantial number of men liable for Territorial service. For the purpose of effecting a preliminary selection of personnel for this service, special Selection Committees were set up in each military area, comprising the Secretary to the Armed Forces Appeal Board, the District Man-power Officer, and the Area Officer. Persons selected were duly notified, and a right of appeal was afforded both to the individual concerned and to his employer. In consequence, the Boards were called upon to deal with a not-inconsiderable number of cases at fairly short notice. This work was handled expeditiously. Another special duty which devolved upon the Boards during the past year was the examination of applications made by members of the furlough drafts from the Middle East seeking retention in New Zealand. It was the duty of the Boards to examine the circumstances in each case and to submit reports thereon to Army Headquarters, who made the final decision as to whether further relief should be afforded. As a result of the general falling-off of the work, action has been taken to effect a reduction in the number of Boards. In July, 1943, the number of existing Boards was reduced from twenty-five to nineteen, while from Ist April, 1944, a further reduction was made to sixteen Boards. C. THE SPECIAL TRIBUNAL As explained in the last annual report, the Special Tribunal was set up for the purpose of ensuring (a) that conscientious objectors whose appeals were allowed were ncit thereby placed in a better position financially as compared with men in the Forces, and (b) that they were engaged in useful work. Payments made in terms of orders by the Tribunal during 1943 amounted to £6,687 ; in one case a conscientious objector who was held from military service in the public interest also made voluntary payments amounting to £97. The only change of any significance in the principles governing the work of the Tribunal was the cancellation of orders in respect of conscientious objectors whose appeals had been dismissed subject to non-combatant service and who were not required for service by the Army. This alteration took effect as from the beginning of 1944. D. DEFAULTERS' DETENTION CAMPS As described in the last annual report, these camps have been set up for the purpose of detaining men whose appeals have been dismissed but who nevertheless refuse military service. At the 31st March, 1944, the total number of men in camps was 610. Up to that date 51 men had elected to serve in the Army and 31 had been transferred to prison. The men are distributed in a number of camps and have been engaged in work as follows : — Strathmore. —Land-development, including fencing, draining, top-dressing, &c, under the supervision of the Land-development Section of the Lands and Survey Department: Galatea. —Dperation of a farming block owned by the Lands and Survey Department. The work includes haymaking, shearing, mustering, fencing, &c. : Hautu. —Work in this camp is carried out for the Prisons Department, and- includes clearing, ploughing, scrub-cutting, fencing, post-splitting, and rabbit-extermination : Shannon.— -The men in this camp arc engaged in cultivating and weeding flax for the Industries and Commerce Department: Balmoral and Conical Hill. —The principal occupation of men in these camps has been firewood-cutting and forest-thinning under the direction of the Forestry Department: Further Camps. —Additional camps are in the process of being established in various localities in the North Island for firewood-cutting. The confinement of conscientious objectors as a class has involved—■ (a) Complete segregation : (b) Seasonable accommodation : (c) Strict discipline : (d) Provision of social amenities. The aim has been to develop a segregated community in essentially decent and healthy conditions involving mental and physical occupation and discipline, but not the infliction of harsh treatment.

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