MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 March 1917, Page 4

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

SECTION THIRTY-FIVERS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, March 20. The Third Military Service Board heard the case of James Skinner, one oi a family of brothers, who was called up under Section I! 5. Owing to the nature of his ociipation, which wag shearing, correspondence from the department did not reach him, and in .his absence his appeal was dismissed. Subsequently he was arrested at Dannevirke, and entered Trentliam Camp on February 1. He now ask■ed for a re-hearing, the grounds of the appeal being that he wsb engaged in nn essential industry and also that he had to support his mother. After hearing his evidence the board granted a rehearing, which proved that the appellant was an export shearer, and the appeal was adjourned sine die. The appellant was granted exemption from military service in the meantime, conditionally on his reporting each month, and that he shall be engaged in shearing or farm work.

HAWERA SITTINGS. In the appeal of Frederick John Jones, Mnlioe, the Board reserved Its decision until May 27, appellant to he granted suspension from military duties in the meanwhile. At the end of May the case would be further reviewed. The appeal of John Kcrrisk, dairy farm assistant, Mldhirst, was also adjourned until May 27, when it would be reconsidered. Jn the ca9e. of- Timothy Murphy, farmer, Kohi, Waverley. the chairman said the appeal would be.adjourned until next sitting of the Board in Ilawera, and in the meanwhile it was proposed to ask the EflSciency Board's committee to report upon the case. In regard to the appeal of Frederick Gawith, dairy farmer, 'Hawera, whose appeal had been dismissed in default of appearance, the chairman said the decision of the Board had already been forwarded to the Commandant of the Forces, and the Board therefore had no jurisdiction to reinstate the appeal for hearing. The 'Patea Freezing Worlcs Company asked for extension of time in the case of Frederick William Willis, beef boner. Mr. X. A. Williams, secretary of the company, stated that the appellant was an expert beef and mutton boner, and it would bo difficult to replace him.

The chairman said that under the circumstances the Board had no option but to dismiss the appeal, as the case was now beyond the jurisdiction of the Board, appellant being an attested soldier. ,

The appeal of William Albert Back, dairy farmer, Patca, who had been bosrded C2, ws.3 withdrawn, and formally dismissed.

Henry George Back, dairy farmer, Patea, who appealed on the ground of public interest and undue hardship, did not appear, and his appeal was dismissed.

The appeal of Stewart McGlaßhion Watkius, da:ry farmer, Kohi, who had been boarded Class D, was formally withdrawn and dismissed. John Shep.hau, farmer, Whcnuakura, whoso case had been adjourned from the previous sitting in order to allow appellant to bring proof as to his age, lie 'claiming not to he a reservist, being over age, was called.

Mr.- O'Dca, who appeared for the appellant, said that appellant lmd been unable, to trace the date of his birth, although every effort had been made to do so.

The appellanb deposed that lie held a lease of 182 acres at Whcnuakura, 011 which there were 500 sheep, a few .head of cattle and horses. In addition, ap-' pellant als6 managed Mr. Gowor's farm of 800 odd acres.

The Board reserved its decision. The appeal of Thomas Francis Sullivan, farmer, Rangitatau, is to be taken on Tuesday. .

Richard Leahy, farmer, Waitotara, appealed on the ground of public interest and undue hardship. Mr. Currie appeared for appellant. The appellant deposed that in March of last year he had voluntarily enlisted, but was rejected. On the strength cf being rejected ho purchased his present farm of 500 acres, O.R.P, At- the present time ho had 500 ewes on the place. Appellant submitted a written statement showing his financial position. Ho had ono brother at tho front.

Appellant, who had been "boarded" B1 (hospital treatment), added that he was at present undergoing treatment for spinal trouble, and had been under no fewer than five different doctors. Tho Board reserved its decision.

Tho appeal of Joseph Maihey, Ball Road, who had been "boarded" C2, was formally withdrawn and dismissed.

James William Williams, mail carrier, Patea, was granted leave until April 12. The Board were of the opinion that any C2 man or returned soldier could take up appellant's contract.

Aubrey Xoe Thomas, farmer, Puan (Mr. Spratt), said, he was single, and occupied a farm of 278 acres. It was at present stocked with 4ao sheep and 110 lambs. He had been endeavoring to atrar.go for a lease of his property. He Imd served with the New Zealand forces' in tho South African war. He had n<i desire to evade military service, but desired time in which to arrange for the sale of his sheep ana dispose of his farm.

Mr. Spra-tt suggested that this might be a case for the Board of Trustees to report upon. Captain Walker agreed with Mr. Spratt.

Tho_ appeal was adjourned until the next sitting of the Board in Hawera, to enable the Board of Trustees to report upon the case.

Stanley Paul Buckrell (Mr. Spratt) appealed on the ground of undue hardship. Appellant, in his formal appeal, stated that his only brother had been accepted for service. The appeal was adjourned until the next sitting of the Board in Hawera.

Thomas Patrick Kennedy, farmer, Wtivcrley, appealed on the ground of public interest and undue hardship, Mr. O'Dea. appeared for tho appellant. The appellant stated that he was married and' farming 1100 acrc3 four miles from Wsverley, and tho farm was at present carrying 2500 sheep, 100 head of cattle, and ISO horses-. Ho was also Interested in 7000 acres of bush country. He had a single brother on the 1100 acres. Appellant gave particulars of his financial position.

Tho appeal was dismissed, appellant being granted until April 29. Herbert Walter Biggs, sharemllker, Mokoia, who with throe brothers and' two sisters was milking by hand 59 cows, asked for time until the end of June, to enable the cows to dry off. The appeal was dismissed, appellant being granted leave until April 29.

Lawrence 'Andre# Bradley, fartaen Waverley, appealed on • the ground oi public interest and undue hjird#hip. Appellant h4d been classed B2 by tho Medical Board, ■which had adjourned his ease for three months. The case was adjourned until the first meeting of tlia' Board after .Tune f> next. j Charles John Crockett, dairy former,' Cornwall road, Ngacre, appealed on th« ground of public •interest and : undu« hardship. In his formal appeal appellant stated that he had offered higser-i vices previously, but was rejected. The Medical Board's report classified appellant as C2, and his appeal was formally withdrawn and dismissed. The appeal of Edward Grant, drover, Normanby, was allowed, appellant being over age. The chairman announced that in the case of I{. Lee the decision was reserved till next sitting of the Board, in order that the medical report might be perused. Appellant was "boarded" 81. In the case of John Sheehan, the decision was reserved pending a report from the Industrial Organisation Committee of Wanganui and Waitotara. In the case of Arthur L. Robertson, the appeal waß withdrawn and formally dismissed. Appellant was "boarded 11 -D. Robert W, Campbell appealed on the ground of public interest and undue hardship. The appellant, who was 37 years of age and- single, was a dairy fanner at Kohi, ten miles from Waver* u ley. He was farming 530 acres in con- ' junction with his father. Fovir tons were interested in the farm, two of whom were in France on active service , at present, and the other, aged 27, was at home assisting to work the farm. Appellant was manager, but if either he or his remaining brother were called up they would be compelled to Bell their cows. They had for .soma timo placed their farm on the market for cither sale or lease. Had they sold or leased, both, he and his brother would have gone to the war long ago. Decision wjis reserved. Edward Henry Fincham, farmer, was granted leave until April 12. Harry C. Lawson, motor driver, Opm nakc, who did not appear, had his appeal dismissed. The appeal of Thomas Francis Sulliw van, which was held over from the previous sitting, to enable the appellant to be medical-boarded, was reviewed. It was reported that appellant had been passed A. The appeal was dismissed, appellant being granted leave until April 29. Thomas Henry Goldup, single, farmer, Toko, appealed on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship. Appellant stated he occupied a leas# of 1)8 acres, with the right pf purchase, on which lie was milking 20 cows by hand. He had no help on the farm, and "batched" on the property. r In reply lo Captain Walker, appellant . said his two married brothers and his father lived close by. There was another married'brother in the Stratford district. Ho leased the farm from his father. One brother was at the front. Two years ago he had given up dairying for a season in favor of grazing, during an illness. The appeal was dismiasecf, leave being granted until April 29. Horace Charles Wall, butcher, Waverley, appealed on the ground of publio interest and undue hardship. Appellant said he was single atld 33 years of ago. He Was 16 biisiitws for iiimself; he commenced business ' last September. He had one employee. Thero was one other butcher's business in Waverley, which employed three hands. Appellant, as he was leaving the court, said lie had religious objections to fighting. ' ( The Chairman: What Is your religion? Appellant: I belong to the Testimony of Jesus.

In reply to the chairman appellant said he was not prepared to sign an undertaking that he would render noncombatant service either in the Medic*! or Army Service Corpg,

The Chairman! Very well; that di« poses of your religious objection. The appeal was dismissed, appellant being granted leave until April 29. Mr. J. B. Murdoch, chairman of the T. L. Joll Dairy Co., Ltd., appealed on behalf of the company far exemption to Alfred Noble Brown, cheese-maker. Ha said that Brown, who was an expert cheese-maker, was manager of the Mangawhero branch factory. In TaranakJ ; there were 81 cheese factories, all of which required at least one expert cheesemaker, while some required two expert men, and the largest three expert employees, in order to carry on the work. Approximately there were 100 expert cheese-makers in Tarannki.

In reply to Captain Walker, Mr. Murdoch stated that full statistics concern* , ing the dairy industry and the men employed in tho industry, were being prepared for the Board. The appeal was adjourned until tho next sitting of the Board in Hawera, to ' enable Mr. Murdoch to obtain the statistics for the Board.

In the appeal of Michael Patrick Con- , don, dairy farmer, Te Roti (Mr. O'Doa), counsel said that appellant's brother, who had been passed fit for service, was prepared to go into camp, leaving Patrick to look after the farm.

The Board agreed to* this, and adjourned the appeal of Patrick Condon until the first sitting of the Board after April 20 next. The Board, in regard to the appeal of

R. W. Campbell, decided to reserve its decision until May 31st next, when tlio appeal would be furthel reviewed; appellant to be granted suspension from mill* tary duties meanwhile. The following appeals were formally withdrawn and dismissed, for the reft* i sons stated in parentheses;—A. L. Richardson, Tataraimaka (D); .T, De Castro, Ihai» Road, Opunake (D): VV, Paterson, Patoa (C2); P. Leahy, Ngutuwera (C2). This concluded the sitting.—Star.