On 2 March 1916, the Derby Scheme was officially replaced by conscription.
After conscription began, civilians might be exempted from military service for reasons such as health grounds, running a business, caring for their family or because they were working for the War Office in a munitions factory.
 These are the proceedings of a tribunal at St.Annes in June, 1916.

ST.ANNES TRIBUNAL.

TWENTY THREE APPEALS.

SOLDIERS FOR FARM WORK.

There were twenty-three appeals, chiefly of men in later groups, at the St. Annes Tribunal, on Wednesday evening. Coun. R. Leigh (chairman) presided, and the other members present were Couns. J. H. Taylor, J. Hayes, Messrs. IL W. Heap, R. T. Gillibrand and J. Whiteside, with Mr. T. Pym Williamson (Military Representative) and Mr. T. Bradley (Clerk).

APPEALS BY SOLICITORS.

With reference to the application of the Blackpool, Fleetwood and Fylde District Law Society, that the cases of solicitors should first come before a committee of the Society, Mr. Bradley read the following letter from the Secretary:

"Adverting to your letter of the 22nd May, I beg to inform you that the Military Representative of the Fleetwood District, Capt. Booth, suggested we should send him the names of three members of our Society whom he could invite to meet him, When entertaining applications from local members of the profession."

A further letter from the Secretary to Capt. Booth, nominated Messrs. H. Cartmell (St. Annes), H. A. D. Plant and W. J. Read.

JOINING THE TRAINING CORPS.

The first case with that of a joiner, who appealed for temporary exemption because of his wife’s health, and asked to be put back to the end of September.

In answer to the Military Representative applicant said he was willing to join the Training Corps.

The Chairman: I think there has an order come to that effect.

Exemption to October 1st was granted, on condition that applicant joined the Training Corps to make himself fit.

WINDOW CLEANER.

A window cleaner, who appealed on health and business grounds, was told that the Tribunal could not deal with health grounds.

Conditional exemption was granted.

The proprietor of a cafe appealed on business grounds, and expressed his willingness to join the Training Corps if necessary. He was given conditional exemption.

A green-keeper for a golf club appealed on personal grounds. He stated that he helped his aged parents.

IN 4 B.

In reply to the Military Representative applicant said he could not do farm work, as he had double rupture, kidney complaint and flat feet, and was put in 4B.

Conditional exemption was granted, and the Chairman asked him to try to get some work of national importance.

INSURANCE INSPECTOR.

An insurance inspector who appealed on personal grounds was granted conditional exemption.

SOLDIERS AND FARM WORK.

A farmer appealed on behalf of his milkman, and stated that he had 200 customers. The man had six children. Conditional exemption was granted.

In regard to another employee at the same farm it was said that an arrangement had been made.

Applicant said the arrangement was that he should go if another man could be found.

The Military Representative said he undertook to find men. He had seen Col. Barron at the Convalescent Camp, who said that not only would he be pleased to send men, but that he was bound to do it. The method was to apply direct to Col. Barron or to the Labour Bureau, at Blackpool, in which case they would be put in touch with Col. Barron. It was just as well that farmers should know that they could get labour from the camp if they had got farm labourers at the camp.

CASE IN PRIVATE.

A cabinet-maker, who appealed on personal grounds, declined at first to answer some questions and said it was not fair to ask him.

The Chairman: - Then all we can say is "Good night.".

Conditional exemption was granted after hearing the case in private.

LUGGAGE-CARTER.

A luggage-carter was the subject of an appeal by his employers. It was stated that the man had four children.

The case was postponed for a month to enable the man to go on to a farm. The Chairman said they were being pressed to send men on to farms if they could do farm work.

HIS OWN JOB IN THE ARMY.

A coal merchant applied for his carter, who stated that the man was the only employee he had to carry on the business. The man was also very deaf.

Conditional exemption was granted.

A motor-car proprietor stated that if he joined the Army his business would be closed. He was willing to join if his home could be kept going, or if he could get his own job in the Army.

To enable the applicant to get into suitable work in the Army, exemption was granted to August 1st, without right of further appeal.

CERTIFIED OCCUPATION.

A coal Merchant appealed for his carter, who had been exempted previously to June 1st. There were only two men left where there were formerly four. The man was in a certified occupation, and conditional exemption was granted.

A Dairyman appealed for his foreman, and as he was in an exempted trade conditional exemption was granted.

COAL MERCHANT.

Another coal merchant applied for an employee and was represented by Mr. H. D. Grey (Messrs. Lonsdale and Grey). It was stated that he was in sole charge of the business. Conditional exemption was granted.

An insurance agent appealed on personal grounds—the illness of his wife and financial difficulties. Conditional exemption was granted.

DUSTMAN EXEMPTED.

A dustman asked for exemption on the grounds of his occupation. It was stated that it was essential that the public health should be maintained, and it was necessary to leave young men to do it. There was a difficulty in getting men to do that kind of work.

Conditional exemption was granted.

FURNITURE DEALER.

A second-hand furniture dealer appealed on the grounds of being the sole head of a business, and conditional exemption was granted.

A licensed victualler appealed for the foreman in his mineral water department. Out of seven men formerly employed in the department six had gone. He applied for temporary exemption to the end of October.

Exemption to July 1st was granted without leave to appeal again.

NINE OUT OF 14 RELEASED.

A St. Annes firm appealed for two of their employees, both plumbers. It was stated that nine men had been released out of 14, and the men left were not sufficient for the repairs of the district.

Conditional exemption was granted.

OPERATION TO ENLIST.

A waiter appealed on his own behalf for two months' exemption. He had had an operation to get into the Army and was out of employment for two months. He wanted to meet some bills.

Exemption to September 1st.

A printer's machineman appealed on personal grounds—domestic responsibilities. Conditional exemption was granted.

SEVENTEEN SERVING.

A painter and decorator appealed for an employee as indispensable, and stated that he had seventeen employees serving. There was also a personal appeal by the man on account of his crippled child.

Conditional exemption was granted.

APPLICATION REFUSED.

A young yarn agent, single, who had received temporary exemption, applied for an extension. He stated that he had arrangements for his contracts with a few exceptions and was expecting a legal action in a few weeks

Applicant did not appear and his application was refused.