Manpower Committee Sits

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 255, 8 January 1941, Page 5

Manpower Committee Sits

FURTHER APPEALS HEARD SEASONAL FARMING DIFFICULTIES The second sitting of the Nog .2 Military District Manpower •Committee in Whakatane, took place yesterday and owing! to the number of appeals to be dealt with it is not likely that the! will be over before this afternoon. As upon the last occasion the committee (Messrs R. Coulter, chairman, E. Wilton and G. Buchanan) gave the fullest consideration to all applications where farmers were short handed, but in most instances it was amicably agreed that training be postponed until the wrnrtPr camp of April, May. and June. In his opening remarks the chairman stated that all reservists were expected to train at some time or other and though the committee rer cognised the difficulties facing the primary producer, they looked for the co-operation of. farmer-employ-ees in, an effort to train every ablebodied man in the use of arms and! "in military knowledge. No Person to Replace. In the case of Percival Cowan an individual farmer with 40 cows on an acreage of 183 acres, appellant said he was appearing on his : account, as there was no person "fco replace him. He expressed his desire to serve during the winter months if possible. He slated that from thje beginning of the present season till the end of last month he had produced 3600 lbs of fat. His statements were born out by Mr F. Maunder, a neighbour, who said that Cowan was engaged on improving work which was very valuable. The appeal was adjourned till March for reconsideration, the chairman asking the appellant to make the best efforts possible to find some one to replace him for the months of April, May and June. Allan Corbett, a sharemilker, appealed and was supported by his employer, Mr R. T. Olding of Awaroa Station. The total area under cultivation was 144)0 acres. There were 1020 milking cows as well as 600 pigs and other stock. Last year the total fat produced was 221,310 lbs. Mr Olding stated that the appellant was head man 'performing valuable work. He had charge of 150 cows on 160 acres and was engaged with others in farming the area as a whole. The man was quits willing to go into camp and he himself would appreciate it if the period of training could be postponed until the season had slackened off.

Mr Olding also appealed on. behalf of another employee, Herbert Charles Taylor, who was carrying on as another sharemilker. There were four other sharemilkers and 1 the herds were mainly of pedigree stock. He offered to do his best to arrange for both mCn to go to camp in the April period.

Mr said that the board realised that the men were doing good work and did not wish to> needlessly disturb them unless they could be replaced. Both cases were till -March sitting. Training Deferred. Another farmer on his own account Edward Richard Harty stated •that he was farming 160 acres with K brother. The farm was partly fWed and they were endeavouring *to bring in a further 50 acres. He stated however that he would be agreeable to having the period of training deferred till April. This offer was agreed to and the appeal dismissed,. An owner-driver of a taxi service Charles Griffiths Johnson (Mr R. F. Smith) applied for an adjournment of his hearing till to-day owing to a long business trip he had had to make. Agreed to. A further farm employee, Cyril JDouglas Malaquin, appealed with his employer Albert K. Day, on the grounds that reservist could not be •suitably replaced. Mir Day explained thai he himself was: incapacitated owing to an arm injur;* which was a severe, handicap. He had no relations who could give a hand with the farm. The committee agreed that the .case was a most difficult one owing to the amount of apparent illness in appellant's family. In answer to a question he replied that lie had not given anj^

consideration to the possibility of erecting further 'accommodation for a married couple. He undertook however to go into the matter by way of co-operating as much as possible. The case was adjourned till March I A Thornton Appeal. Appealing for his brother Arthur John Laurence Sheat, his employer, E. D. Sheat of Thornton, stated that the area farmed was 100 acres and that much of the work was of an improving nature. There was also an orchard of 2 acres, but much of the land had gone back to rush d\ving to lack of assistance in, the past. Appellant said that it was a most difficult property to farm and owing to the pioneering nature of tfiie work no farm hands, apart from his brother were willing to remain. He himself was sullering from feet disability as a result of intensive drain ing work in the past and relied on his brother to carry on wheni he was unable to do so. To Mr Coulter, he admitted that he had in the past carried 1 on by himself, and could probably do-so' again but from past experience he was not willing to take on another hand. It might not sound a ;|oo<d advertisement but he had had no less than 24 men in eight years and had been left in the lurch so often that he had been almost driven frantic. After gciing into details of farm expenditure it was mutually agreed that reservist should be released, for the winter camp. Dairy Employee. The case of an employee of the Waimana Dairy Company, Douglas Samuel Cain, was next dealt with, the chairman of directors, Mr J. A'., Mitchell, appearing in the interests of the company. Mr Mitchell stated that the appeal was only of a temporary nature and if the training period could be postponed the companyi would be grateful.

The chairman said that the committee was concerned about the possibility of replacing such a man, who was definitely learning cheesemaking. It was important that dustry be maintained as much as possible. The appeal w?s held over for consideration at the March sitting. Maxwell E'wart, a sharemilker for Mr B. Sladden, Taneatua, appealed for exemption. The area farmed was given as 512 acres on which 148 cows were milked. Appellant said that his appeal was grounded on undue hardship owing to the difficulty in breaking his contract which he was not certain could be varied . Adjourned till March for later review. Appeal for Seaman. Messrs Parry Brothers appealed on behalf of James Henry Carr who was employed as an able-bodied seaman on one of their ships trading with Auckland. It was pointed out that there was great difficulty in obtaining seamen and it was in this respect that the grounds for appeal were those of public interest,, in view of the service given by the trading vessels.' The father of the reservist, Mr H. Carr, stated that his son was quite willing to go into camp at any time A. J. Parry said the greatest difficulty was to get another youth who could be broken in in a short time. The appeal was forwarded mainly on the grounds that the reservist was such a good man. Case dismissed, subject to reservist not being required for camp before February Ist. In the case of Harold Gregory Chaplin., sharemilker, his father G. S. Chaplin, and the farm owner, Mrs M. O. Keir, appealed for exemption. The size of the farm was given as 228 acres on which wai milked 100 dairy cows. Chaplin Snr. said that he was actually employing his son, on| whom he was definitely dependent. The farm had been allowed to go back and it was his endeavour to keep the production as high as possible. He had another son who was a cripple and was dependent upon reservist for actual running of the farm. He was not raising barriers but would appreciate, a postponement of his son's training period.

The committee decided that here was a case of genuine hardship and that until it was possible to see where further help was coming from it would not be wise to order reservist to camp. The case was adjourned for later hearing during March.

A One-Man Farm,

James Clifford Dudson, farmer, working an area of 40 acres, appealed on his own behalf, claiming hardship. Further information on behalf of Mrs Elizabeth Dudson, an aged aunt of appellant who was also living on the farm was given by Mr L. Buddie who said that there was no one else fc«> whom she and her husband could look if reservist Avas 1 ordered to camp. There was no other person capable of controlling the stock or of running the larm.

The committee agreed that the case Avas an unusual one and that •any arrangements made ior the release of the reservist, Avould have to take into consideration the protection of Mr ami Mrs Dudson ay ho were the original owners of the farm. Case adjourned till the March sitting of the committee. A Matata Business. A strong appeal for the exemption of Maurice Frederick Lees Avas lodged by his mother, Harriet Lees of Matata. It Avas pointed out that the appellant a AvidoAV had run a store for 20 years and had recently OAving to ill-health been forced to retire, leaving the business in the hands of her three sons, one of whom Avould be called in the Air Force shortly. Beth the others badbeen called in the last ballot and one AA'as. prepared to go into camp as soon as needed. The appeal aa ? as entered in order to retain the services of the last remaining son. Mr G. Otlev, avlio appeared in the interests of the family, said the business had many ramifications oaving to the extensive credit trade with the Maoris. There was also a bakery attached and a delivery over a AAidespread back district. Mr Coulter asked if there Avas any possibility of the other brother taking control of the business in his absence. He thought perhaps some arrangements could be made in this direction. Appeal Avas adjourned for later consideration in March. A Joint Business. Postponement for his son, EdAvard Samuel Grant, Avass ought by E. S. Grant of Edgccumbe. It was stated that a farm of 37 acres Avas worked carrying 43 coavs and, other stock. In addition to this appellant conducted an extensive plumbing business Avhich av«s essential to the family's welfare. Reservist Avas also experienced in this respect and alf* though he realised that one of his sons AA'ould inevitably be required for serA 7 ice overseas, lie considered that the one Avith all round experience should be retained. He Avjas' Avilling hoA\ T evcr to make arrangements for the reservist in question to go to camp in April.

With this suggestion the board

concurred. The appeal for David Lindsay Davies, by his mother was heard in private. Dairy Company Dilemma. Dairy Company employees E, Habgood, Ed mond Becker, John lie id Waddeil, Albert Graham, Charles William Francis, of the Rangitaiki Plains Factory at Edgecumbe, were appealed for by the manager R. F. Blair.

In a written statement Mr. Blair pointed out that from now till the end of March the company would be manufacturing daily 700 to 1000 boxes of butter. In the past the coin pany had not sought to hold back any of its men, with the result that its staff had been severely drained of experienced hands.. The position now was that after helping the war effort in the past, to the utmost, it was now impossible to release any further men till after the end of March without very severely affecting the operations of the factory. The staff question was now fast becoming desperate and the company would welcome consideration of the board to postponement till the busy season was over. Mr Blair also detailed the work by the reservists all of whom he said were key men who could ill be spared at any time, let alone midseason; The appeals of Habgood and Becker were dismissed subject to the reservists not being required for camp before April 1. The case of J. R. Waddeil was adjourned sine die, appellant having already gone into camp for overseas service. With regard to Graham (accountant) and Francis (head tester) the appeals were adjourned till the March sitting. Labour Shortage Gitedl. Allan Wm. Smith, farmer, appealed for an adjournment owing to seasonal pressure of work. The area

farmed Ava£ 217 acres and 140 cows were milked.

Mr Otley who supported the appeal said that reservist was also a ploughing contractor and although keen to go into camp lie was faced with the acute labour shortage which left him without any reliable means of carrying on the farm, should he be away for any length of time. Appeal deferred, till March. Charles E. Doncaster, sharemilker, appealing on his own behalf, said that he was employed by his father who was now living in Auckland upon medical advice. He was milking »0 cows and there would be the greatest difficulty in replacing him. Mr Coulter said that it Avas part of the committee's duty to see that production Avas maintained and it Avas therefore Avilling to grant an adjournment till March when a further reA*ie,AV would be made. Appeal Adjourned. Mr G. Campbell, sharemilker of Edgeeumbe, appealed on behalf of his employee, lan Bruce Armstrong. He stated in evidence that he Avas milking 160 coavs on property OAvned by Hold's worth Bros. It Avas possible to spare him from the farm for April, May and June. Appeal adjourned till the March sitting for reconsideration. R. T. Caiu appealed on behalf of his son, John Thomas Cain, owing to the fact that he Avas the only remaining son at home, his brother be ing aAvay in Egypt. The farm though 800 acres had only 200 in grass. He himself Avas unable to Avork on doctor's advice and there ; Avere 50 coavs to milk. The reservist himself Avas very keen to get away but his going would! make the position most difficult at the present moment. Case adjourned till the March sitting. A Conscientious Objector. The first appeal on conscientious grounds, occurred when Donald George Campbell notified that such was the basis upon Avhich lit; based his objection. The matter AA*as referred to the Armed Forces Appeal Board for decision . Two brothers John Werne Dunslan and Joseph Arthur Dunstan, each Avith i'a-ms of 340 acres and milking 98 and GO coavs respectively, Averc appealed for by their father who said that though both were ' keen to go to camp, he kncAV it Avould be impossible to carry on without them. Appeal adjourned till March in connection AAith the first reservist, providing he had not entered camp for training in the Mounted Rifles. With regard to the second the case Avas adjourned till March sitting. The employers (Messrs Johnson Bros) of Arthur Edward Hugh Evans, sharemilker, applied for extension. The area concerned Avas. set doAvn at >38 acres on which a herd of 230 coavs Avas milked.

Mr J. Johnson in evidence said that there were three single men or.

the farm

Mr Coulter: If you have three eligible men on the farm I think you could jnake an effort to free at least one of them. Appellant: I realise that its only a matter of time before they'll go, but its hard to let a good man go once you liave him. Appeal dismissed subject to reservist not being required before April 1 Case for Winchman. The plea that he was a winch man employed at Tauranga loading and unloading wood for supply to the Whaltatane Paper Mills, was put forward by his employer (H. W r . Hitch.cn) in the interests of Henry William Leo Foreman. Mr J. W r . Wright, Paper Mills accountant, said that reservist was the only white man employed in the transport of logs from Matakana Island. The company had experienced a lot of trouble regarding continuity of timber supply until this man had been specially engaged from Auckland. Case adjourned for hearing at Tauranga. Slaughterman Called Up. John Bcnnet Hooper (Mr R. F. Smith) slaughterms|., appealed P>r exemption. On his behalf his employee, Mr Robt. Salmon, said that it was next to impossible to obtain a slaughterman at present. Last year he had employed four men, this year he nau but half that number and if Bcnnet Avent to catnip he would be left with one. The chairman urged the appellant to advertise in an effort to discover a suitable man who might be seeking employment. Decision reserved.