MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1917, Page 6

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

SOUTH TARANAKI APPEALS. The First Wellington Military Appeal Board continued its sittings at Hawera yesterday. A MILKING MACHINE EXPERT. The first ease taken was that of Ivey Jones, mechanic, of Stratford, who is already in camp. His employers, the A. W. R. Milking Machine Company were appealing. Mr R. D. Anderson, secretary of the company, stated that they would like local exemption for this man or leave of absence for as long as possible, because appellant was their fitter and tested all their machines. Appellant had been with the company practically since their operations commenced in 1012. He was an expert with benzine engines. If a. milking |nachine stopped it was a serious thing at the present time with the shortage of labor. To Captain Walker: They have one other expert in the Second Division in Taranaki, and other learners. They had branches in Hamilton. Palmerston and Eketahuna, \\'ith an expert in cadi They had advertised, but could not get suitable men. He reiterated that it was a serious thing if a machine was allowed to stop. There were about 200 machines in Taranaki to look after. He did not see that one man could be spared from any of the other branches. The appeal was dismissed. RESERVED DECISIONS. Reserved decisions in the cases adjourned from the previous day were given as follows: — Jas. Patterson, decision reserved till April 20th> Robert W. Harris, appeal dismissed, Captain Walker undertaking to obtain leave till April Ist; Reuben Hartleys, decision reserved sine die, exemption from military service granted provided he reported monthly to the Group Commander. [NDISPENSIBLE MOTOR MECHANIC Harry Blake, motor mechanic, Ma'naia. appealed on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship. Mr. O'Dca stated that the Medical Board had adjourned the case for further consideration until May 20, he having undergone an operation for appendicitis. He suggested that the appeal bo held over till the same time.

Captain Walker suggested that lie might as well know his position.

Appellant stated he was 23 year? of age and single. His garage included engineering, and was the only one that attended to motor 'buses and lorries He looked after ten motor lorries carting butter and cheese, and three 'buses Mo one either Ifere, Manaia, or OpunaUe, Eave his father's (in Hawera) could take on this class of work.

To Captain Walker: All the lorries | and 'buses mentioned eame into Hawera. He took over the branch 14 months ago; Prior to that, if anything went wrong, some one went out to the machines, but they were nearly all new then and sc-t. dom went wrong. He employed a turner, who could manage ordinary repairs, but not adjustments. Four garages in Hawera repaired ears, but they had not the necessary machinery for heavy work. He had been before the Court not more than four times for failing to attend drill. He did not know it was possible to get exemption. Joseph Mourie deposed that if the garage closed < down it would take him all his time to carry on. He had three 'buses and three cars. Appellant had to go to Opunake on the previous night to effect repairs. To Captain Walker: Witness carried the mails, and was under a penalty if he did not catch the train. He did not know if the business would have to close ilcwn if appellant left, but it would be difficult to get a man. Witness said he would like to go to the war himself, if 'he could get away. W. H. Reynolds gave siiniki evidence, but admitted to Captain Walker that he did not think the garage would close dowr if appellant went. There were numerous pleasure cars being repaired ir. Hawera.

Mr. O'Dea: You suggest, Captain W'lker, that parages sliould give up the repair of pleasure c-ais? Captain Walker: I do; and if they were patriotic they would. John Blake, motor engineer, Hawera, stated tliat there was no other business in South Taranaki capable of doing the work south of Elthain. Their firm took over the business in Manaia from a firm that did not do his work, and prior to that the work was done by witness in Hawera. Other firms had tried the work, but had not the appliances to do it. , " '

To the chairman: The work could he done if Manaia closed down, but- at considerable inconvenience.

To Captain Walker: He had one man at Hawera that could do hia work. He could not send this man to Manaia. If his son went to the war he would probRblv have to close down the Manaia business, and would perhaps have to give it away, as it would be impossible to seil it. Even if his son were given three months' exemption lie could not arrange to get someone to take his place. He could only get "threeeighths"' men, who could not do the work. There was no motor engineer in Hawera that could make as good a job »s Charles Blake in repairing motor Tjuses. Certain portions of the work, such as gear-cutting, had to be done in Hawera. He would put his son up against anyone they liked to bring against him.

To the chairman: Lorry work was heavier work, but a man capable of repairing cars repair lorries if he had a plant, but he did not have the plant. The chairman: You want the monopoly. Mr. Williams: There arc a lot of lorries in Wairarapa, but no gear-cutting plants. Witness: We cut gears for some lorries in Wairarapa. Mr. Williams: Then you could do likewise for Manaia.

Mr. McLaren: Do you suggest that if your son goes away you will make a present of that plant at Manaia to someone ? Witness: Oh, 110, but I will have to sacrifice if. The Board dismissed the appeal. AN ENGINEER'S DIFFICULTY. Heinrich Frans' Vosseller, engineer, of Eltham (Mr. Crump), appealed on the grounds of undue hardship and 'public interest. The appeal iwas also supplemented by an application for financial assistance. Letters in support were put in by the Eltliam , Dairy Company and the J.S3?. .Milking Machine Company. Appellant, who was aged, 91, was mar-

ried in January., IrtlG, an J had one child, He deposed that lie was a general engineer,' specialising in dairying machinery, motors, and farming machinery generally. JTe was born. in New Zealand. iHis parents were German, hat had resided in New Zealand 40 years and were naturalised. He had lived all his life in New Zealand, save five years spent with the Eastern Extension Cable Company, Singapore, lie was the manufacturer of the Sergeant milking machine.' There was no other similar business uearer than Ilawera or Stratford. The Kltham Dairy Company depended on him entirely for machinery repairs in. all their branches. He had last year constructed UK) milking machines, each of which saved one man's labor. It would be impossible to secure a man to carry on the business. He gave some details of his finance, and stated that he had arranged with Mr. Harkness, of Stratford, who had a similar business, to supervise his business while he was away. Mr. Harkness, however, had had to turn down similar business, owing to shortage of labor, for' the first, time in 20 years. Witness did not desire to shirk service, but, if he was to serve, \vould require financial assistance. He had employed as many as seven, hut now 'had two men, a boy and a clerk. If he left, he would leave his business in charge of a fitter and a boy, and the manufacture of milking machines would have to be cut out. The value of the Eltham Dairy Company's plant was approximately ,-£17,000. To Captain Walker: During tile winter was his busy time. Decision was held over until to-day in order that the application for financial assistance may be put in. CASE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. J. J. Hanan, supervisor of telephone exchange, Hawera (Mr O'Dea) appealed on the ground of undue hardship.' I-Hs age was 3-2. and he was married in April, 1915. He was willing to go, provided he was given financial as.»«(ance, or his liabilities were tafcefi over. TTie Board considered that this was a case Tor K'Ctil assistance. Appellant did not consider that he would get any assistance locally. Mr McLaren asked what was being done with the money that was collected from the public. In some districts the Patriotic Society kept in touch with the Board for the purpose of helping in Bucli cases.

Mr Crump, Eltham delegate to the War Relief Assocition, stated that the majority of the societies had no funds available for such eases, the money having been raised for the asslstane-j of wounded soldiers and their depend ents.

Mi' McLaren thought that the constitution would provide for the dependents of a necessitous soldier.

Mr Crump pointed out that this was a ease of providing for the probable wants of a reservist who was not yet Serving. Mr McLaren said that this would be a serious matter when the second reserve was drawn upon.

The case was held over, ill' O'Dea stating that he would endeavour to arrange for the attendance of some member of the local Patriotic Committee.' -

After the luncheon adjournment MiMcLaren read the constitution of the Taranaki War Relief Association, which provided for the relief of wounded and necessitous soldiers and their dependents. Messrs Jas Campbell (secretary) andß, F Page (treasurer) of the local Patriotic Society were present, and the former gave evidence to the effect that the local society was affiliated to the Taranaki War Relief Association, to which body any claims would be submitted with a recommendation, which would be favorable were it a bona Tide case of necessity. They had never had a similar case to deal with, and did not know what attitude the Association would adopt. Their society was empowered to give relief up to £lO in urgent cases. The chairman said that another so;.: ety had promised to give such assistance. To the chairman: Mr Campbell said that the money in Hawera was raised to assist wounded soldiers and their dependents. Mr McLaren pointed out that appellant was a soldier immediately the ap peal was dismissed. It was elicited that from £40,000 to £50,000 had been raised in Taranaki, and of this about £OOOO was raised ii. .Hawera. The local society had never had occasion to assist the family of a mon who had just left for the front. Mr McLaren: "You're lucky. In Wei lington wa?ve assisted thousands." To Mr /D'Dca: Witness said that their society had never discussed the question of Interest. / To Mr Mol/ten: Witness said that he 'vas convinced that the money so far raised in Taranaki would be inadequate, »t present it was doubtful if more than the interest or. the money was being disbursed. He thought that when tlw money was donated the public expected that it would be liberally disbursed. In the present ease if the facts were a* represented, he would have no hesitation in recommending it as a genuine case. • It was psipt-cd 'out that the military pay and allowances could not be attacked by creditors. Mr O'Dea said that the young fellow wanted to go away with a clean sheet. He agreed to submit an application to the Government for financial assistance to pay rent, insurance, etc., and the decision was adjourned pending considera-. tion of this by the Government. A PATRIOTIC FAMILY. William Stevenson, of Mokoia (Ml Spratt) appealed on the grounds of undue hardship, public interest and religious objection. Appellant's employer Mrs Lauder, also appealed. In the coursa of her evidence Mrs Lander deposed that appellant milked on shares on her farm of 187 acres. She had been on this farm since August, 1015. Prior ito that, appellant had worked for her on another farm. Witness was a widow, with four children, the eldest being 10. Her father-in-htw, aged 70. resided with her. They were milking 57 cows by machines Stevenson's brother, who part'ner, enlisted last May. Witness \v#» willing to do her best to carry on if she could secure an ineligible man. Shu desired exemption for this man until the end of the stfison in June. Witness had another farm five miles away, also share milking. This farm was on the market.

Appellant explained that he was not altogether unwilling to go. Three ot his brothers had gone to the front, and he was the only one left. He thought it every man's duty to go, and did not desire total exemption. He would like exemption till the end of the season in the interests of his brother, who had been liis partner, and himself. Appeal dismissed, Captain Walker undertaking to' obtain until June 25th, provided appellant rsinains in his present employment.

A STIGMA UESttN iED. Wlien the cases o( Eu# we Patrick

McCarthy (Mr. Fleming) and I'rawi-i Mortimer McCarthy (Mr. O'Dea), both farmers at 'Hurleyville, who had appealed on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship, were failed on, it was stated that tlie former had been medical-boarded C2. His ease was accordingly 'withdrawn and the appeal allowed. Francis Mortimer was already in camp, but his father, Patrick McCarthy, aged 82, appealed and slated that one son had gone to the front with the 'first contingent. Witness and his wife owned 880 acres, and he had no male assistant. His son signed on and went to camp by mistake. He considered this was an injustice. His son Eugene lived about. 20 miles away, on 4(10 acres of leasehold. Witness ran over 2000 head of sheep and 50 cattle. He had been on part of the farm 40 years. To Captain Walker: He had another son of nine years. Eugene could hardly manage both farms. Eugene Patrick, recalled, deposed that his farm was 382 acres, whereon were 200 cattle and 100 sheep. Later, he would only run 1-20 or 130, after he had given np some leasehold. This was 22 miles from his father's place. He had taken this farm' up last April, prior to which lie managed his father's farm, while his brother looked after a farm for

a man at the front, since returned wounded. They objected to being brought up under Section when they were not shirkers, oeo brother having already enlisted.

To Mr. Fleming: His brother whilemanaging Newton's was able to assist his father, but his brother was stronger than lie was.

To the chairman: His father's place was rough and required a lot of ploughing. He could only do his best to take his brother's place who went into camp three days after being medical-boarded. Ho said they 'would not allow him a month, which witness considered was rotten.

Mr. Fleming said the brother felt the position so keenly that after he was drawn he went into camp as early as possible to remove the stigma.

"Mr. McLaren could not see that tlie Board had any authority to deal with the appeal once the man was in camp. If the Board allowed the appeal, what j would the military authorities say? Captain Walker said that legally the man was a member of the Expeditionary Force, but ho did not think the military authorities would take iiclvnn. tage of i> ( technicality. There were four Bisters, two of whom were at home, but they could not muster. To Captain Walker: He had not tried to get shepherds. Captain Walker stated thfit a man had approached him and offered' to manage a sheep station from a patriotic standpoint for a bare living. This was a thoroughly competent man. It was utter nonsense to say that managers could not be obtained. The chairman said that now the organisation of labor "was being undertaken it should help to provide some solution. lie understood that some retired farmers were prepared to give assistance, Representatives of farmers had met the Board at New Plymouth and gone into the matter, and a meeting was to bo held on Saturday to thoroughly consider it. Decision was reserved till later, when the appeal was dismissed. AN ADJOURNED CASE. ■Robert Arthur Prout, dairy farmer, Waverley, whose case had been adjourned from the previous sitting, appealed on the ground of public interest ond undue hardship, fie stated that lie had been unable to make any arrangement with his brother, whose employer could not spare him, and w&' thought that he could not taße his place. To Captain Walker: He could not get any assistance. -He had not tried to get any ladies to assist. His brother on the farm was married, lie had not applied to labor agencies, nor did he read the advertisements every morning. Mr. McLaren pointed out that at last sittings the case was adjourned so that appellant could either arrange with his brother or take steps to get some other labor, which latter he admitted he had But done. Decision was reserved until later, when the appeal was dismissed, Captain Walker undertaking to obtain leave of absence until April 29. WITHDRAWN OR STRUCK OUT. The following were struck out, appellants having been medical-boarded C 2:— Thomas Alfred, Taylor, gardener, Manaia; l'rancis McNamani, saddler and harness maker, Stratford; William Park, dairy farmer, Hawera; William Leslie Stuart Tait, chemist's assistant, Hawera; Frederick Albert Saiine, farmer, Bird Road, Stratford. The following were struck out, there being 110 appearance of appellants: Frederick John May, builder and contractor, Hawera; William Swane, dairy farmer, Warwick Road, Stratford; Henry Patrick Stell'ert, sharemilker, Inalia. The fallowing were dismissed, having been withdrawn by appellants:—Harry Clement, motor lorry driver, Eltham; James David (J rant, farmer, Hawera, who had gone to camp. Appeals iu the following cases, which bad been medical-boarded class I), were allowed:—Frank Henry (jluillosson, laborer, Ellhum; Norn; i Samuel Copeland, farm hand, Taiporunenui. The appeal of Thomas Alexander Milroy, medical practitioner, Manilla, was fuljourncd until the lii*t sitting after June 20, he having just recovered from tin operation.' TO-DAY'S LIST. The-following appeals will be heard to-day:—Thomas Judscn, farmer, Toko; John Alexander Knight, farmer, Punilio; Fred Mills, I dairy farmer, Tokaora; Michael O'Connor, ilanaia; John William Richards, sheep-farmer, Mpevoa; Ej-nest Victor Silby, dairy fiu-nrer, Awatuna; John James Sullivan, dairy farmer, Kaupokonui; Alexander Towneend, fanner, Lowgartli; George Turner, farmer, Ka ponga; David Robert Walker, dairy far. mer, Olmngai: Claude iPearson Walker, Oliangai: William John Finch, dairy farm assistant, Xgaerc; Oreswell Netherall Hawken, farmer, Hawera; Edward Hamilton Wiley, farmer, Whangamoinona; Morgan Whitaker Priest, stock agent, Whangamoinona:' Francis Disney FJamerton, farmer, Puniwhakau; Robert Charles Lay, farmer, Hurimoana; Charles Lowe, farmer, Kohuratahi; Albert H. Perry, fanner, Kohuratal\; Albert John Marshall, farm assistant, Patca; Leonard Honey-field, fanner, J"atea'; George Ludwig Frank, farmer, Tahora; Michael W. O'Slillivan, farm laborer, Whenuakura; Cornelius Frances Sheahan, farmer, Patea; Thomas Michael Sheahan, farmer, Whenuakura; John Slie.iha'.i, farmer, Whenuakura; Michael Aloysiua Timothy, cheescmaker, Kohi; Thomas Francis Sullivan, farmer, Rangitata; William ,George IJobinson, fanner, Estham; John William Pickup, farm hand, Patea. >