APPEAL BOARDS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 66, 20 April 1943, Page 6

APPEAL BOARDS

MORE POWER URGED

"It seems a pity that you have not more power in these cases," said Mr A. A. Stewart, counsel for a reservist, at a sitting of the Taranaki Armed Forces; Appeal Board at Eltham, in addressing members of the board on. the farm labour position and; the. release of men from the army. Ma- Stewart contended that the army should furnish the with lists of grade 2 men so that grade 1 men on farms required for military training could be replaced by them. "We can't replace labour,"' said Mr Stewart. "Itt's left to the boys in camp to volunteer for farm work. This stuff that's coming out in. the papers about the labour position cuts no ice," The board had years of experience dealing with cases and "tons of in- j formation" on its files, he added. "You .should say to us, 'take so ant} so from camp' and we'll do> so. I speak as a trustee farmer as well; as a solicitor." "What if unsuitable men were sent?" asked the chairman, Mr R. B. Sutton. Mr Stewart: They could be rcj placed. Mr Sutton: They might refuse to work so as to go back to camp. •<lf I were the. Government I would govern," replied Mr Stewart. Another member, Mr H. E. Blydej, said arrangements were being made for manpower officials to take men out of camp and direct them to in-» d us try. Mr Stewart: I am very glad to » know it. Later in the sitting Mr Blydc gave a similar reply to Mr J. Hessell, counsel for another appellant, who told the board he had written to several unit commanders inquiring for suitable farm labour from the military campfe, but without success.