MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 99, 26 September 1918, Page 1

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

Sitting at To Aroha. The second Auckland Military Service board sat at Te Aroha this week, Mr F. Hockley presiding. William D. S. Cranbie, driver, Walton, applied to be placed in E class of the Second Division. He detailed his marital and family position, and also gave particulars of ploughing and top dressing he had done for his employer, a farmer. The board decided to adjourn the appeal sine die, on the ground that appellant is an essential farm worker. Peter A. Fordham, farmer, Walton, said he was last man on the farm of 106 acres, dairying. He had been classed CI. He had been unable to get anyone capable to manage the farm. Returned soldiers generally were unable to do sustained heavy farm work. He had disposed of a farm in June, 1917, and in October, as there was no prospect of him being called up and as he could not afford to remain idle, he purchased the farm at Walton. —Sine die granted on usual farmer's conditions.

Albert Mouldey, farmer, Tatuanui, appealed in the public interest. He had two small farms, one at Tatuanui and the other at Tahuroa. He had a high-class herd of Jersey .cattle and was breeding pedigree stock. He gave details of his farming operations, and said he was the only man on the farm. He had come to the district owing to his wife's health, which, however, had not improved. He came from Taranaki last March, but had been breeding pedigree cattle from the same stock for several years. Of five brothers two are on active service, one is an invalid, the fourth is farming near Pukekohe, and the appellant did not know the whereabouts of the fifth brother. Appellant had been classed CI, and he had nobody to conduct his farm even while he attended the CI camp. —Adjourned for a report.

The Tatua Co-op. Dairy Co., Ltd., appealed for Richard C. Gollop, an employee in the factory at Tatuanui. Mr Darrall, chairman of directors, in evidence, said Gollop was first assistant in the factory and a skilled mechanic, who could not be replaced except at the expense of another company.. Witness gave details of the factory's output. Last year the output of cheese was 264 tons and this year it would be at least 20 per cent. more. —Sine die exemption on usual conditions was granted.

Bertram K. Buchanan, farmer, Tatuanui, claimed to be the last man on a dairy farm of 120 acres. One brother is returning from active service, and the other has been rejected owing to physical infirmity.—Sine die granted.

John Alex. Maxwell, farmer, Tauhei, said he was classed CI, and asked for sine die exemption as he was the last man on the farm. He had sold a farm at Poi Poi in May last as it was too large for him. He purchased the present farm soon afterwards — just about the time he was drawn in the ballot. He was not " tiedup " on the farm, but considered he was acting in the best interests of the country. He could not afford to be idle. The previous owner was not dairying. Appellant was willing to sacrifice the farm and go to camp if required. —Adjourned for a report. Alfred E. Polglase, farmer, Wardville, last man on a farm of 126 acres, alleged hardship. Of seven brothers one had been killed in action. Most of the others had not yet become eligible in the ballots. All reside in the South, and could not assist appellant. —Sine die granted. Thomas McDonell, farmer, Matamata(Mr G. G. Bell) said he is the only able-bodied man on his farm, and he is also managing his soldier brother's dairy farm. McDonell had previously been classed C2, and on re-examination recently was classed A. —Decision deferred for a report.

Victor L. Miles, farmer, Matamata, the only man on a dairy farm of 180 acres, asked for sine die exemption in view of his occupation. His appeal was favorably reported upon by a prominent Matamata farmer. — Adjourned for inquiry. The appeal of William A. J. Wright, farmer, Peria, was adjourned for one month, he nothaving been before the Medical Board yet. Henry J. Ashfcon, farmer, Te Poi, alleged hardship as ho had several dependents. In addition to his farming operations he was mail contractor for a daily service, Matamata-Te Poi-Omahine. —The chairman, in adjourning the case for further inquiry, said it was somewhat different to the general run of " last-man-on-the-farm " cases, in view of the fact that appellant did not put in his full time at the farm work. — Exemption would only apply where full time was put in on the farm ; the mail carrying could be undertaken by someone else. Robert B. Scott, fitter, Matamata, was appealed for by E. B. Barnes, manager of the dried milk factory at Matamata. Scott is head machinist, and is second in charge of the factory. Scott is thoroughly competent in all departments, and would be very hard to replace. He had been with the company since the dried milk process was adopted at Matamata, and prior to that was a creamery manager —a good allround man in the dairying industry. Answering the chairman, Barnes said he relied on Nathan's to provide skilled men, and had inquired from them for a. man to replace Scott. They said there was no one available at present. Witness had not the sanction of the N.Z. Dairy association, but had the sanction of Joseph Nathan & Co. to proceed with the appeal, Mr Hockley said Barnes had placed himself in a difficult position. He had appealed for Scott as manager of the N.Z. Dairy association's factory. Barnes gave some confidential information to the board respecting control, payment of wages, etc. The board said Barnes' evidence was not corroborated, and suggested adjourning it until Thursday, at Hamilton, to hear Mr Pacey. The chairman said the board had had an unfortunate experience on an earlier occasion when dealing with an appeal for a dried milk factory employee, and the board did not want a similar outcome in this case. — Adjourned for inquiry.

Ernest R. Bulmer, farmer, Pukeatua, said he was farming 900 acres in partnership with his father-in-law, Perrott. The property was purchased in October, 1917, and possession taken in August, 1918. Appellant was formerly farming at Waitoa, and for health reasons sold out and went in for grazing: at Pukeatua. He did not expect to pass the Military Medical board, so with confidence purchased the big farm. His partner was over 60 years of age, with an invalid wife. Perrott could not conduct the farm alone. Bulmer had three brothers, but none could replace him on the farm.

Medical evidence was put in to show that Bulmer had bona fide grounds for assuming in October last that he would not pass the military test. Counsel said exemption was sought, as there was a probability of Bulmer being rejectedon medical grounds. This would entail distinct hardship as he had expended well over £IOOO on improvements, etc., on the farm. If Bulmer had to go to camp he would not leave his wife on the farm, which was in a lonely locality, and this would necessitate the removal also of her parents. Deferred for further inquiry. Fredis C. Flyger, builder, Putaruru, applied for leave to complete contracts in hand. —Leave until 9th January was granted. Richard R. Hawke, farmer Tirau, said he was the last man on the farm, and could not get anyone to manage it.—Adjourned for report. ; Jesson C. Lake, dairy farmer, on 340 acres at Tirau, said he was

milking 60 cows with the help of One man. He knew ot no one who could manage his farm. His brother had been wounded in France, and even if he returned would not be able to carry on the farm, as he is not a farmer. The board said reports were very favorable and granted sine die. The case of Albert Bowers, farmer, Okoroire, was adjourned pending medical re-examination. Richard Perkinson was appealed for by the Bartholomew Timber Co., his employers. This was a re-hearing, Perkinson having been granted sine die as an essential worker at the company's sawmill at Te Whetu. The board read a letter alleging Perkinson was not essential, and was frequently away from duty. Perkinson is a First Divisioner. The.chairman said the board had sought the opinion of an experienced man in the industry, who indicated that Perkinson's employers expected too : much from him. He could be replaced as a handsaw man, as a foreman, or as an engineer, but apparently he was employed as an all-round man, and as such he would be harder to replace. Counsel said there was very considerable friction between the Bartholomew company and the firm to which the writer of the first letter belonged. He suggested unfair tactics and malice towards the company. The company's secretary, Mr Preston, and manager, Mr A. C. Tompkins, said Perkinson was very efficient and essential. He was not unduly addicted to liquor; and only lost three days in the past six months, and this absence was solely to enable him to go to Auckland to see his brother depart for active service. Statements reflecting on Perkinson's sobriety were absolutely untrue. The board said men were only exempted in the public interest, and those exempted must give their best attention to the special work they were exempted for, otherwise they will be ordered to camp. However, the case of Perkinson was not difficult to determine. Sine die exemption would be continued. Ralph E. Fitness, farmer, Hin- ' t time to put in mtil March 6th B^yc,farmer, Putaj on the firm, .). The area of . .••< acres, and appei- . .t n improving it wit' .ili his lesources. It was now fit for dairying. —Case adjourned for inquiry. William Craig, grocer, Tirau, was supported in his appeal by his employers, Rose Bros. It was shown that of the two partners in the business one was killed in action and the other is on active service in France. Craig is essential to the carrying on of the business, working in cooperation with the actual manager..- Craig said he was merely asking for time, at the request of his employers. They wanted him until after stocktaking next April if possible. — His entry into camp was fixed for the May draft. David P. Laird, agent, Matamata, did not appear and the case was adjourned for a month by agreement. R. A.. "Walton, storekeeper, Matamata, was granted sine die exemption. E. D. White, farmer, Putaruru. was granted an adjournment until November. Robert Thomas, dairy farmer, Matamata, gave details of his farming operations and recent dealing in various properties, also the reasons for selling and buying lands. The chairman stated the position seemed very unsatisfactory. The appeal was dismissed, but leave was granted until March 6th to enable Thomas to arrange his affairs.