APPEAL BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1833, 30 May 1918, Page 3

APPEAL BOARD.

LOCAL CASES.

Palmerston N., Wednesday.

Chas. Arthur Chevallier Preston, manager of the Foxton branch of the N.Z. Shipping Company, whose appeal was previously adjourned sine die, again came before the Board. He was represented by Mr H. A. Cooper, who asked that the appeal be also treated as an appeal by the employers, the New Zealand Shipping Company. Appellant stated that he had occupied his present position for three and a-half years. He submitted a statement showing the total number of bales of produce shipping by his Company during last year, 30,477, consisting of wool, hemp, and tow. He had one clerk and a storeman, and employed up to a dozen men in the store. In addition to the produce mentioned, appellant had to attend to the passenger traffic, and had to arrange for the space on the ships for the produce. At the present time 5,117 bales of wool were awaiting shipment at Foxton.

In reply to Captain Mc-Donnell, the Chairman said that the Company had written and asked that its interests be considered.

Appellant, in answer to Captain McDonnell, said there was a large quantity of flax stored at Foxton, but his Company had storage room for 2,000 additional bales of flax. There was nobody to take his place if he was sent to the war. Fifty per cent, of the Company’s staff had gone to the war. Captain McDonnell said he knew that flaxmillers were storing flax all over the place at Foxton, owing to the shortage of shipping. Appellant said he had been drawn in the ballot for the first men of the A class. The clerk in the office was not capable of undertaking appellant’s work.

Mr McLaren asked appellant if 50 per cent, of the Company’s staff had enlisted, or wore 50 per cent, at the front, but appellant was unable to answer.

Mr Cooper said tliat in the course of evidence at Christchurch the general manager of the Company said that half the staff had gone to the war. In the afternoon the Board announced that the appeal would be dismissed, leave granted until August. The appeal of George Ralph Nisbett, dairy farmer, of Foxton, formerly adjourned sine die, again came before the Board. Appellant deposed that since ho was before the Board on January 25th, he had sold hi.s farm. He was ready to go into camp, but asked to be given leave until the end of July.

The Chairman said there would be a draft going into camp about the middle of July, and appellant would he granted leave until then. Denis Rochfort Richmond, solicitor*, late of Feilding, and now of Foxton (Mr Cooper), stated that his position was unchanged. He gave details of his financial position.

The Board, by a majority decision, decided to dismiss the appeal, appellant to go into camp with the September draft.