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Saturday 19 February 1916 – Setting up a military tribunal

Category World War I: Labour issues/Military Tribunals
Publication
The Evesham Journal
Transcription of article

EVESHAM RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL

MONDAY – Present:  Messrs J H Bomford (Vice chairman in the Chair), F Cope, A Butler, A R Williams, S Cotterell, W Heming, T Bubb, J Ashwin, C A Binyon, H Taylor and the Rev G B Coopland.  Mr J Smithin (Chairman) came in soon after the proceedings commenced, but he did not take the chair.

This was a special meeting called principally for the appointment of a tribunal under the Military Service Act 1916 and the Clerk read the portion of the Local Government Board circular relating to the constitution of the committee.

Mr Ashwin said he thought they had been fortunate in that district in the Tribunal they had had to deal with the cases under the Derby scheme, and he did not think they could do better than ask them to serve on the new tribunal.  He proposed that the members be re-elected.  Mr Heming seconded.

Mr Binyon said as the work would probably be considerable he thought it would be better to propose an addition to the number.  It was also provided that labour should be represented.  The principal industry of the district, market gardening, was at present under-represented, he himself being the only member.  He thought it would be well to appoint a working market gardener who could represent labour, and he thought should represent a parish that at present had no representative.

Mr Smithin supported this view, and suggested that two members should be added to the tribunal.  He proposed that one of them be Mr Bubb.  The Chairman said he agreed with Mr Binyon and Mr Smithin.  Mr Cope seconded the appointment of Mr Bubb.

It was decided that the members of the old tribunal – the Chairman, the Vice Chairman and Messrs Binyon, Cope and Williams – be elected on the new tribunal.

In the course of further discussion on the appointment of a labour representative, Mr Binyon said that surely it was possible to find a small market gardener who would sit on the tribunal.  Mr Cotterell said he did not think there was any member of the tribunal who did not take an interest in labour.  The Chairman said he thought most of them represented labour.

Mr Binyon said he still thought they ought to have a man from outside and that he ought to be a representative of labour.  These points were strongly insisted upon in the circular.  He suggested that the parishes not at present represented should be asked to suggest someone whom the Council could appoint at a later date.  Mr Cope supported this.

Mr Cotterell:  All the members represent labour.

Mr Binyon:  Labour might not think so.

Mr Cotterell:  All the members will see that labour is well looked after.

Mr Bubb was added to the tribunal, and Mr Binyon’s proposition that a labour representative be added later was then put and carried.