FARM "FUNK HOLES"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 113, 4 June 1941, Page 8

FARM "FUNK HOLES"

PROTEST FROM R.S.A. POSITION IN TARANAKI Lack of sufficient local knowledge on the part of Appeal Boards was leading to "shirkers" of military service being able to succeed in appealsl for which there was no justification, "it was 'contendad at a meeting of the Stratford 11.5.A. recently. "I have a strong objection to farms being used as funk holes for shirkers," stated Mr A. O'Sullivan. "I don't like to see people buying farms so they can be classified as producers," he continued, and went on to quote cases that had come under his notice. "Something should be done about' it and it seems to me that it will be necessary to have a system under which local knowledge will be made available to the tribunals." <<As a solicitor hei had attended appeal sittings, and it seemed to him the tribunals watched evidence closely, said Mr S. McAlister. Appellants were always asked if they their farms at 1 or since the s&irt of the Avar. Where thev had thc3" received short shrift. "Well, I have attended sittings of the tribunal and there have been decisions that I could not agree with," said Mr N. H. Moss, another solicitor. '''The Armed Forces Appeal Board is dependent on the evidence placqd before it. It comes from Wanganui and the Crown representative is a Wanganui man. Local residents can sit at the hearings and listen to cock and bull stories being given, and the Crown representative doesn't know the real circumstances. The only way to get over it is to have local representation to advise the board. In one case that came under my notice a young single man appealed. He was one) of several sons: of the family. The only appellant bought a farm after war broke out. Why lie was granted exemption I don't know. "Burning with Indignation." "In one district the people are burning with indignation because a man who spends half his time plaj ring sport should have got off,?" a member remarked. Mr N. O. Kbbett referred to the practice in a northern district where a special 'committee ftiade information available to the board. Something similar was wanted in T'aranaki. "I know of a oasa where the fam.ily boasts of the fact that members have avoided service," said Mr F. Olliver. "I heard of another family of several sons who say'they are not going if they .can get out of it. Then there is a man who bought a farm a few months ago to dodge service." Other memibers gave: similar instances. They also quoted cases where farming people ' had made great sacrifices,, even going to tha length of selling up to telease men, but said tlieYe were far too many who were deliberately trying to avoid serving in any Capacity. Messrs Moss and O'Sullivan -moved and seconded a motion calling the Government's attention to the fact that owing to the full and true facjts not being available to the Armed Forces Appeal Boards some men eligible for service had escaped serving on either the territorials or the overseas services. It was recommended that a be adopted under which local information would be made available to the tribunals.. The motion was carried unanimously-.