MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1917, Page 3

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

j HAWERA APPEAL CASES. | MARRIED MAN'S DIFFICULTIES. The sitting of the First Wellington District Military Service Board— Messrs. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., W. Perry, ami D. McLaren—was concluded at Hawera yesterday. Alfred Reuben Buckland, tallow-cask maker, and Harold Valentine Buckland, mechanic, Hawera (Mr. O'Dea), wlio were called up under Section 35, appealed on the ground of undue hardship. Alfred P>euben Buckland said he was 22 years of age, and was married in June, 1915, and had a child. He would have to break up bis borne if be went away. Appellant handed in a written statement, disclosing his domestic affairs. He had no property, and had nothing but bis wages to depend on. He thought he should be regarded as a Second Division reservist. His wife's mother and several brothers resided in Hawera, He bad liabilities amounting to about £PiO. The Chairman: There is no doubt you are a First Division reservist. In answer to the Chairman, Mr. O'Dea said there was a patriotic society in Hawera, but he did not think they would do anything to-assist appellant. The Chairman: That is wbat these societies exist for. Mr. McLaren: In Wellington the Patriotic Society have done much useful work in relieving men of their financial worries. Mr. O'Dea: In Hawera the society advaijced a man money, and got a bill of "sale over bis property. Moreover, they arc charging him intiVest. Major Cox: The funds of the society here are pretty considerable. The Chairman (to Mr. O'Dea): You should recommend that the society do something to assist this gentleman. Mr. O'Dea: Yes, sir; I will. Captain Walker: With his pay and separation allowance, this man has not much chance of paying oil these debts. The Chairman: That is so. The appeal was dismissed, and he was given until April 1 to arrange his affairs. Harold Valentine Buckland was 20 years of age. His health was not good. He bad been passed by the Medical Board. —Appeal dismissed.

A DISTRESSING CASK. Bertram Thomas Carman, driver, Okaiawa (Mr. O'Dea), asked for time until -his mother's health was improved. His only brother, who was the first in Okaiawa to enlist, had been killed in action, and his mother had 'been seriously ill ever since the news arrived. Appellant had been anxious to enlist, but hesitated on his mother's account. The appellant's father said if appellant went to the front, he was afraid his mother would die. Mr. O'Dea: This is a genuine case, I am sure. Mr. McLaren: We are assured of that. I think it is admirable lioxv the family has faced the situation. Case adjourned until April 29, when position will be reviewed. FARMERS' LIABILITIES. "My financial position is the main ground upon which I base my appeal," said Albert Edwin Pether, aged "25, dairy farmer, Havera (Mr. O'Dea). He had a farm of fi4 acres, on which there were two mortgages, one of £2-100, and another of £I4BO. He had paid £GBO off the second mortgage, which lie had undertaken Jo reduce at £SO per annum. One of his brothers went into camp in Jftiiiiary, and another was in the Navy, The farm was valued at £SO per acre.

Appellant said lie was perfectly willing to go to the front if lie could free himself of the farm satisfactorily. His cows produced £2O per head, and his gross proceeds from the farm last year amounted to £Cf>o. Mr.'O'Dea: This seems a hard case. Appellant is paying £-250 per year interest.

Mr. McLaren: We are beginning to wonder whether we would be relieving him or somebody else. Decision was reserved until April 29, when the position will he reviewed, exemption being granted in the meantime. Henry Marlborough Shrimpton, dairy farmer, Whakamarn, aged 34, pleaded undue hardship. He occupied a farm of 70'/s acres, on which he milked 40 cows with machines. He worked practically on his own, his father, who was over 70, being in'failing health. One brother was on his way to the front, and another was in camp. Another brother was in the Second Division. Appellant's sister assisted him some time ago, when the milking was done by hand. His parents and sister were entirely dependent on the farm. There was little chance of disposing of" the property, and lie could not afford to employ a manager. The cows produced £"2O each per annum. Decision was reserved until April 29, when the case will be reconsidered, exemption being granted in the meantime. FIVE 7 BROTHERS AT THE WAR. '■' Out of a family of six eligible sons, five are on active service," was stated in support of the appeal of Walter Herbert Kaynor, cheese-maker, iPihama. Appellant did not appear. Alexander Eraser Neilson, general manager of the Pihama Dairy Company, gave evidence that Kaynor was chief assistant at the Company's factory at Patiki. Tt was hard to get skilled men, [ and if Raynor went away the quality of the output would be affected. Raynor could he better spared now than he could when the appeal was registered in December. Tile manager, who was in I the Second Division, was an expert cheese-maker.

I Appeal dismissed. A RELIGIOUS OBJECTOR. Religions objections were raised by Lawrence Wntchorn, aged 24, sheepfarmer, F'lniwhakau. He belonged to the sect called "The Testimony of Jesus Christ." He joined thirteen months ago. Captain Walker: You must have belonged to that body before the date of the declaration of war (August 4, 1014) for your appeal 10 be considered on the grounds stilted. The Chairman: What body did you belong to prior to thirteen months ago? The Appellant: The Methodist Church, sir! The Chairman: Appeal dismissed. \ MISCELLANEOUS. The appeals of Gerald Charles O'Callaghan, settler, Strathmorc; Frank John Xettingham, cheese-curing manager, l3itliam; and William James McCarthy, farmer, Ngacre, were dismissed the appellants not ajtyearijj

The appeal made by the Normanby Dairy Company on behalf of Robert Leach, cheese-maker, Normanby, was dismissed, no appearance being made. James Henry l'urkett's appeal was' withdrawn. Burkett is a checse-makor, cmploye'd at Ngaere. The application for exemption preferred by Crcsswell Metherall Hawkcn, fanner, Hawera (Mr. Spratt) was adjourned until the next sitting of the Bosrd, the appellant to be medically examined iri the, meantime. The following cases were dealt with on Thursday evening:— James Hyslop, single, aged 33, for whom Mr. O'Dea appeared, appealed on the ground of public interest and undue hardship. Appellant, a blacksmith, said he had to support his mother, who was in Scotland, and also partly support one sistev. If he had to close up his business it would not be in the public interest. It would be hard to sell his business now, because blacksmiths were getting scarce. The appeal was dismissed, Captain Walker undertaking to obtain leave until March 4. Thomas Heissenbuttle, livery stablekeeper, Opunakc, appealed on the ground that he was not a reservist 1 . Appellant produced a birth certificate showing that he was 49 years of age. The appeal was allowed, appellant being over military age. Henry Zinsli, carpenter, Hawera, appealed on all grounds with the exception of those of religious objections. Mr. O'Dea, who appeared for appellant, said that Zinsli was also appealing on the ground that he was an alien. The point as to whether appellant wai a British subject was an interesting one, and he would suggest that it be referred to the Solicitor-General for his opinion. The Court agreed to this, and appellant's case was adjourned until the next sitting of the Board in Hawera. The Court adjourned at li p.m. until 10 o'clock yesterday morning. j MARINE ENGINEERS' APPEALS, j By Telegraph.—Press Assrciation. Wellington, Feb. 2. The Military Appeal Board decided in the case of four engineers of the Union Company's ships to adjourn the appeals until March 2. The company is expected to replace the appellants in the meantime.