MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1917, Page 7

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

SITTING AT NEW PLYMOUTH. The First Wellington Military Service Board—Messrs, D. (j. A. Cooper, S'.M. (chairman), D.'McLaren, and W."Perryheld a sitting in New Plymouth yesterday, when, the following eases wore'dealt with:—* ■', A; KAIMATA CASE. Thomas Beisick, dairy farmer, .of Kaimata, 'for .whom' Mr. A.. Patterson, Inglewood, appeared; appealed on the grounds of public .interest and undue hardship. He <vas a single man, aged 27 and with his brother Joseph owned 00 acres of freehold. Joseph was in camp with the 26th Reinforcements. His father, an inValid, aged 77 years resided with appellant. They were milking 17 cows by machine. In addition the farm carried 19 head of stoeki two horses and some lambs. When his brother was called up they disposed of another farm of 02 acres. There was no one that could take -charge of appellant's father, .who would have to be put in a home, which he would not.like. To Captain Walker: His married brother residing two and a-half miles away could not find accommodation for his father as he was too cramped'for room. His brother was milking 19 cows by | hand. Witness's' farm could run 20' j cows if the other stock was taken off. To the -chairman: Appellant had no sisters. Decision was reserved until June 30th next, provided appellant remains in his present position. A certificate as to the father's health- would also be required. LEAVE GRANTED. Alfred Percival Marsh, dairy farmer, of Egmont Village, for whom Mr. A. J. Johnston appeared, appealed on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship. Appellant stated that he was aged 35 and single, and with his mother owned 188 acres of land. He milked 45 to 50 cows by machine and supplied the Mangorei Dairy Factory (butter). His mother and he owned the stock in equal shares. They employed one lad ol about 17. In addition to dairy stock they ran K0 head of young cattle. There was 10 acres in bush and 10 acres in turnips. The land was in the blackberry area. He hRd two brothers of military age, one at the war and one at home, who had been twice rejected. The latter was a labourer. Appellant could not yet lieip.

To Captain Walker": Appellant would be satisfied if he could get time to secure, someone!, say, two months. His brother did not take an interest in farm work. The appeal was dismissed, Captain Walker undertaking to obtain leave until June 14th, provided appellant learning in his present occupation., A PLOUGHMAN'S APPEAL. '■ William Smallwood Fencott, ploughman at Te Kawau, whose appeal had been adjourned at the sitting on March 14th and whose employer, Mr. R. V. Eatt'cy, had since appealed, was the next case. Mr. J. E. Wilson appeared for appellant Mr. J. D. Scottv stock agent at Ha-w-era, formerly manager of Mr. R. T. Battley's stations at Te Kawau and Piripiri, stated that prior to iiie war tliey usually employed two ploughmen through the winter and three in the spring, three shepherds and two men at fence maintenance work, also a cook and cowboy when they could get one. There was about 25 miles of fences to maintain. In working that country it was very necessary to grow winter feed. The land was in the breaking state and it was necessary to keep a lot of stock on it during" the summer. 'The stock had to be carried through the winter. If agricultural work was stopped they could not carry stock without a loss. It would menu a decrease in production, Appellant had a good general knowledge of farm work. As the result of -aar conditions, he found the pinch in getting work done.

Captain Walker: His employer asked for exemption to enable him to complete necessary \york. Bush was still being cleared. Mr. -Wilson said that 200 acres was cleared last winter. Mr Dorsett, in charge at Te Kaiopa, stated that he now only had one ploughman. If appellant left, the work would go back. . Witness did not think appellant could be spared. Owing to shortage of laboil. the place had gone back at the time witness took charge in December last. Captain Walker said the employer asked, in his appeal, that appellant should be granted exemption in order to complete certain necessary work. Witness could not definitely say how long exemption would be required. They required the man's services all the year round. To the Chairman,: The other ploughman had left immediately after the last sitting of the Appeal Board. Mr J. E. Wilson stated he understood the Efficiency Board were inquiring into' this case to ascertain whether it was essential that his services should be retained. I The Chairman: We did not ask for a report. | Mr Wilson said the man who had left was 32 years of age. He was waiting round, expecting to be balloted. The Board reserved its decision sine die, and exempted appellant from military service. John Aylward, fanner, of Warea, whose appeal had been dismissed at a previous sitting, applied for a re-licnring. Dr K. A. Walker deposed he had recently examined Mr Edward Aylward, appellant's father, and would say that he was quite unable to carry ont even the lightest farm work. To Captain Walker: At present Mr Aylward,. senr., could look after all financial matters. The appellant stated he managed 550 acres of land at Warea on behalf of his fathers 200 acres was a hush -farm. They milked DO to 100 cows by machinery, and also carried 200 head of store cattle. They had put in 45 acres of turnips for winter feed, and saved 12 acres of hay. The property was- liable to blackberry, gorse and ragwort.. Thirty cowr were milked through the winter. There were over two miles of open drain to attend to. Witness did all the labor. His sisters assisted with the milking. He had-inquired at the Labor Agency, but could get; no suitable labor.,: To Captain Walker: Appellant supplied the Cape Egmont cheese factory. It was not true that he would not keep a' man when he got one. <tt» had kept men for four years, three years, and two years. One man haxl left after six months when he smashed up the wagon. There was no residence on the farm for share milkers. They would rather sell out the herd than let it to share milk--rs, yvh_o niifiht .possibly spqil the cows.

Appellant wbuld not mind letting the cows to good share-nuaccrs. James Burgess, farmer at Warea. for tlie past 3d years, stated that it would he difficult to obtain casual labor to run the farm. In fact, rather than risk it, lie would sooner give up the farm. It would be impossible, for Mr Aylward to carry o n, if his son left, with the assistance of his daughters. He would .require, either labor or share-milkers. 'Labor was impossible. Regarding sharemilkers, witness had. plenty of applica'. tions 10 months ago,-but could not say what the position was now; ff he was in Mr Aylward's place, he would not attempt to tarry on. Cows were so easily spoiled by bad management. To Captain Walker; If he wanted to carry on, witness would advertise for share-milkers, but personally he woulu not take the risk. The cows were an average lot. Some of them, of course, were inferior and might be culled out. Witness, as the result of 10 years' testing and weighing, had increased his yield per cow by lOOlbs. Herds in many casus could be reduced without affecting the output. Mr E. Aylward, father of the appellant, was called. If ins son left, witness would go in for gazing. A sliM'e-milker could not be got to improve the farm. Even if share-milkers were recommended by the Efficiency Board, witness wcuid still like to see to the management of the cows himself. Mr Perry: If you reverted to grazing; you would have no one to do the agricultural work. Would it not pay better to put on share-milkers and have some-, one to do the work? Witness said he might be able to employ someone to work eight hours per day. Men did nob care about milking. Maoris would not work continuously. Decision was reserved. Mr A. 11. Johnstone point-d out that in a similar case, that of Mr O'Sullivan, the Board had allowed one man to go and one to remain. ■•*< The Board adjourned its decision until next,sitting in New Plymouth, when the report of the Efficiency Board will be i' received. | AN INDISPENSABLE SLAUGHTER- || MAN. , 'i I. Alfred Richard Lennon, manager 01'. Messrs Borthwick & Son's Waitaral' Freezing AVorks, put in an application ', for the re-hearing of the application for temporary exemption of Walter Fuller, 'j a beef slaughterman, who had voluntar- ! , ily enlisted. It was pointed out that at , the February sitting exemption had been l, granted until April. Witness asked for \ total exemption. He had seen appellant. - who was willing to place his case en-1 tirely in the hands of the Court. \ The chairman pointed out that a L fresh petition should have been put in. < Mr Lennon said they wanted to pre- i servo the integrity of their works, which , were seriously impaired at present. One | of the beef slaughtermen was laid up i with rheumatic fever. They* were now i" running the beef boards with seven L men, and the nominal strength was\nine I, for a total capacity of 200 head of cattle , per day. | ( To Mr Prycr: The men were firio \ workers. He did not know definitely when the works would close. i Mr Lennon asked what iwould be the' position at the beginning of next season. I —Their output would be as heavy next season as this. I The Chairman: You will be lucky if j you keep seven men. Mr Lennon: Then in that case the' output will be reduced, and the men at i the front will suffer. I consider that' slaughtermen should be the last men to I be touched in freezing works. la it not | a fact that throughout the Dominion ] appeals on behalf of slaughtermen have been favorably met? Their works at one time were the largest in the Dominion, and he understood that'beef was considered as very essential at present. Ho stated that during four months in camp, appellant had not doue a day's drill, but had been kept cutting meat. ■

The Chairman: You are making a statement that cannot he controverted, as thcer is no one from Tvjnthaui Camp here. The chairman pointed out that witness was asking for more than had been granted anywhere. They had granted exemption sine die. Mr Lennon stated that he was appealing in the interests of the country, not of the employers. ' Leave was extended to July 31; TIME GRANTED. William Oliarles Boniface, dairy farmer, at Rahotu, aged 30, married, appealed on the grounds of undue hardship. He had a leasehold farm of 275 acres. He was milking 00 cows -by His father, aged <Rt, and brother, aged 25, assisted with the milking. A sister at home could not milk, Neither his father nor brother were strong. To Captain Walker: He was not asking for total exemption, but wished for time until the end of June. To the Chairman: His sister was married, with two children, her husband being at the front. There was considerable blackberry on the farm that required attention. He also wished to' build a now shed and instal a releaser. Appeal was dismissed, Captain Walker undertaking to obtain leave ifntil June 24th. APPEARANCE IN JvHAKL ', Wallace (,'. Man', farmer, Ngaerc, applied for extension of time. Appellant, who entered the boy; in uniform, stated that he was a member of the 28th Reinforcements, now on leave from Awapuni. He enlisted two years ago, but was rejected. He then leased two farms, one of which ho let on shares, hut the other was too far away" for the sharemilker to look after. Witness wanted time, so that he could sell his stock, 'etc. Appellant had a brother away with the sth Reinforcements, and another with the 11th Reinforcements. Appellant had been drawn in the first ballot. He first went into the infantry!, and had been boarded out into the ambulance. He asked leave until September. Captain Walker pointed out that a good deal of money had been spent on the man's training. The Board decided to recommend extension til the end of August. Win. Gordon Anstis, farmer, of Omata. applied for leave until the end of May. Captain Walker agreed to this, and the appeal was withdrawn, leave of absence without pay being granted until May 27. WITHDRAWN OR, ALLOWED. The following cases were formally dismissed:— Albert- H. Favell, clerk in Holy Orders, New Plymouth, boarded C2; no appearance. Frederick Bishop, dairy farmer, Inglcwood, boarded D, withdrawn. Douglas Pratt Simpson, farmer, Mangorei, boarded D, withdrawn. James Rolland Hall, farmer, Kaimata, boarded C2, no appearance. ,- Julius Fitzgerald locker, electn?

•linesman, Broadway, Stratford, no appearance. OTHER CASES. , a'; The following applications were dis» missed, Cuptnin Walker undertaking to obtain leave of absence, to date 3 named: —Patrick Joseph Maker, linesman, New Plymouth, asked for two months'-time, May 14,1017. Louis Ernest Godfrey Nippert, master painter and. decorator,.' Wellington, appealed on the ground of undue hardship. The ease had been heard by the third board at Wellington,' tut was held over for hearing at New ■Ply. ■hionth. : Appellant .stated' that he, had been considered an alien, and had been boycotted and ruined, April 20, -19J7; further adjourned till next sitting. T.' 11. Bates, farm assistant, New Plymouth, grounds of public interest and undue hardship, May 27, 1917. Michael Crean, farmer, Inglewood, public interest and undue hardship, May 27, 1917. Thomas Henry Bransgrove, bicycle repairer, NewPlymouth, undue hardship, permanently unfit, and brother unfit; brother's appeal I'Rd been dismissed; allowed. Leslie Wilberforco Richards, farmer, Now Plymouth, undue hardship, boarded A; decision reserved sine die. Chudlcigh lnwooil Kirton, farmer, Uruti, and Percy Ballantyne Sole, farmer, Brb'ton, whoso cases had been previously heard and adjourned, pending action by the National Efficiency Board, were further adjourned. Joseph William Burgess, farmer, Miro, decision reserved till June. 30,1917. David J. S. Mcßcan, Ngattmiro, Uruti, public interest and undue hardship; adjourned till next sitting for Efficiency Board to report.