ONEWHERO.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 278, 25 May 1917, Page 1

ONEWHERO.

A FARMER'S APPEAL.

At the sitting of the Auckland Military Service Board on Wednesday the adjourned case of B. C. Cole-Baker (Mr Ostler) was re-heard. He was a farmer in the Onewhero district for nearly ten years. The farm was in two parts, one of 850 acres of rough hill bush country and about 600 acres of it in grass and the other section of 150 acres of mostly ploughed land. Twenty-five acres of the latter was stocked. The farms, which were three miles apart, were owned by him and his brother. His mother was elderly and not very strong. She had a small income. He and his brother submitted themselves to the recruiting authorities in February, 1916, and asked that one be chosen. His brother was selected, At that time there was a cadet on the farm, but he had enlisted. Appellant could not get labour and he did practically all the work. The stock comprised 850 sheep, 130 cattle and 15 horses. He did not consider it likely that suitable labour could be procured to manage the places, which were ten or eleven miles from the railway station

Mr Ostler said he understood that the Efficiency Board had inspected the place and the Military Board might be guided by any report received from the inspectors. In reply to Major Conlan appellant said he did not always read the advertisements in the papers of men requiring farm work. Appellant said lie had replied to some of the advertisements which generally read and sounded all right. He did not think a married man with a family would reside in the district. The farms were three miles from the nearest school.

Major Conlan : I don't think while men are advertis'ng for farm work the plea should be continually put forward that labour and managers are not obtainable.

Appellant said that was not his chief grounds, but ho was considering his mother, who would require to leave for town. It would bo a great inconvenienco to her to have to shift. The Board considered it would not bo in the interests of the country to send this man away now. The case would bo adjourned sine die, or until the brother returned from the front, appellant in any case to be called up before the Second Division,

Mr William ITenry Follow attested at the Pukokohe Defence Office on Tuesday and was accepted for service with the August 1 (raft (33rd Expeditionary Force).