MILITARY SERVICE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 96, 20 November 1916, Page 3

MILITARY SERVICE.

APPEAL BOARD AT HAWERA. (Abridged from Star.) The first sitting of the Military Service Appeal Board was held in Hawera on Saturday morning to hear appeals, other than on the ground of physical unfitness, from men who have been called upon under section ',)o to show cause why they should not ,be called up for service. The Board consisted of Messrs 1). G. A. Cooper, S.M. (chairman), W. Perry (Master* ton), I). McLaren (Wellington). Captain Orr Walker represented the military authorities. Majh* (j {)X group commander, was also attendance. . The first appeals heard we; e t] lose of Eden Fergus McNeil and ij oU() .]. w Stewart McNeil, brothers, resjo( u g „ t Haw era. Ml J P. O'Dca, who appeared fir the appellants, said the appellants wore two of lour brothers. They had a mother and two sisters who were partially depenent upon them. They had bought,a little section in town for their mother and sisters, and were bearing practically the whole of the financial responsibility. In addition, Uiey each gave £1 a week to their mother and sisters. The appellants were Working in the. cheese industry, being employed by the Hawera Dairy Company. 11l reply to the Court, Eden McNeil stated that he was 2(5 years of age, and Douglas McNeil said he was 28 years. The . brother lin camp was .30 years, and the one at the front Avas 21 years. The Board granted the appollants an adjournment of five months, and also .granted each suspension from military service during that period.

■ : The next ease taken was that of Harold' Walker and Ernest Edmond Walker. The former was 22 years of age, and the latter 28. The elder appellant said that their occupation was dairy farming at Ohangai. There were two farms, one of 123 acres anxj one of 129 acres, both leasehold; the first was for one year from July 1, and the second for five years,, with two years yet to run. In reply to Captain .Walker, appellants said they had another brother farming on his own account, and milking about 50 cows. Their other married brothers were fanning on their own account, but they were shojft-handed, and could not give their father any assistance. In reply to Mr McLaren, appel"laUts isnid there were seven brothers, all tolil. Neither- of the two appellants, [-nor any in the family, had made any attempt to enlist. The younger appellant said it would bo impossible for one brother and their father, in his present state of health, to carry on the work. Willliam Paterson, Patea, appealed on the ground of occupation and hardship. , Appellant, on oath, said that he was the only son at home to work ids father's sheep farm, which consisted of 300 acres'. His father was 81 years of age. In reply to Mr McLaren, appellant stated that he was 39 years of age. He bad never made inquiries to see if he could get anyone to take his pla,cc ou the farm. James Paterson also appealed on the ground of occupation and hardship. Appellant said that be was aged 15 years, and a saddler at' Patea. He had acquired the business twelve

years ago, on which there was a mortgage, and which he was paying off. There was one other suddlor at Patca. Appellant's stock -vould be valued at £SOO, and his profits last year wore approximately £IOO. In reply to Captain Walker, appellant admitted that there were probably many people who had made greater sacrifice than perhaps lie would be called upon to make if he went to the front.