MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1917, Page 6

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

SITTINGS AT KAWJ3RA. The First Wellington Military Service Board resumed its sitting in Hawera. John Davidson, dairy farmer (Mr. CHDea) applied for a re-hearing of his appeal, which was previously dealt with by the Board. Mr. <*Dca, explained that the appellant bad told the Board when his appeal was under consideration, that his partner and himself were prepared to go into camp His mure had since gone into camp. Appellant stated he could not dispose of the place. His lease had four years to run. Ho held 119 acres, and was tnilking 55 cows by machine. The appeal was adjourned to enable the owner of the farm to be subpoenaed to give evidence. The appeal of Oswald James Dunlop, dairy farmer, Meremere, which was adjourned sine die, was again reviewed. Mr. B, D. Welsh appeared for tho appellant.

James Dunloip, father of the appellant, gave evidence that he awncd two farms, one of 3M acres on the Turuturu road and one of 102 acres on the Meremere road. Both were freehold. .The Meremere farm was Hieing worked toy the appellant with tho assistance of a lad of 17 of age. The two farms were a little over 10 miles apart. Sixtytwo cows were being milked by the appellant on the Meremere farm. Machines were used. Two of bis boys had gone to the front, one of whom had since returned. Appellant said that last year he had advertised for a suitable man, but had not been aible to secure one. Mr. Perry: Have you attempted to put a sharemilker on?— No. Captain Walker: Why? The witness replied that it had taken him :i0 years to build up the herd, and he was afraid that if indifferent sharemilkers got hold of it they might spoil the cows, and seriously interfere 'with the chances of selling the stock. At present he would guarantee the herd. Decision was reserved.

The a;ppeal of John James Fennell, farmer, Opunake (Mr. O'Dea) was again reviewed. The appellant Baid he had itwo 'brothers in camip. He was fanning 236 acres near Opunake,.and was milking by hand 49 cows. He had the help of his sister. In reply to Captain Walker, appellant said he had not made an attempt to obtain sharemilkers. Decision was reserved. Ernest Frank Cox, dairy farmer, Opunake (Mr. CMDea) had his appeal reconsidered. The aippeal was under Section 35, and since the appellant was first before the Board he had ibeen drawn in the ballot. 'Both appeals were heard together. Appellant said he was really only Asking for a little time to enable him to BawNlown some pasture. Both appeals were dismissed, and appellant was granted leave until August 21. The appeal of Michael Patrick Condon, dairy farmer, Te 'Roti, was reconsidered. Mr, O'Dea appeared for the appellant. Decision was reserved. Albert Edwin iPetlier, dairy farmer, Hawera, was again reviewed. The chairman:' What is the position now?—lt is just the same. I have only a boy assisting me. I am entirely on my own. He added that he had one brother at the front and another in the navy. "Decision was reserved. The appeal of Daivd Kiddie Young, dairy farmer, Kaupokonui. was adjourned until the first sitting of the Board in August to enable the appellant to be medicallv boarded. The appeal of Philip Arthur McDonald, dairy farmer, Kaiwramea, was reviewed. Appellant said his position had not altered since he was last before the Board. He handed in a written statement as to his financial position.

Decision was reserved. The appeal of George Ryan, farmer, Manaia (Mr. O'Dea), was ajoumed until the first sitting in August, to enable the appellant to (be medically boarded. The appeal of George Pickering, dairy farmer, which was previously before the Board, was reconsidered. Mr. O'Dea appeared for tlie appellant. The appellant said lie was single and was milking 43 cows by machine on a leasehold farm. He had approched the members of the Trustee Board with regard to his position. The farm was not big enough for sharemilkers. He ■did not think there was any possibility of disposing of his lease. Decision was reserved. The section 3o appeal of Desmond Leydon. farmer, Waverley, mas allowed on the ground that the appellant was under age when he receievd the notice ; Appellant to take his chance in the ballot. „ . The appeal of John Francis King, dairy farmer (Mr. O'Dea), was reconsidcrcd. .111 Appellant stated in evidence that he was now supervising five different farms, including two belonging to Ms two brothers, who were in camp. If be *erc to go there (would !be no man left to supervise the farms. In addition to ■the work of supervising he did the buy'ing and selling of stock for the five farms, while lie and his four sisters milked Co cows by hand on the homestead place belonging to his mother, the area of the five farms was 877 acres. Decision was reserved. . Harold Howard Walker,, dairy farmer, Oiianc;ai, whose case was before the Board in April last, said his position had not changed. Decision was reserved. The Board retired to consider its decisions, and intimated tliat these would be given on Friday morning. The First Wellington Military Service Board resumed its sitting in Hawera on Board gave its reserved decisions in the following cases: 0. J. Dunlop, appeal dismissed and leave granted until August 21; J. J. Fennell, appeal dismissed and leave granted until September 18; M. P- Condon, decision reserved until December 30; A. E. Pether, adjourned until the next sitting; J. 1. Kin" decision reserved until December SO subject to his remaining in Ins present position and his brother Dennis remaining in camp; 6. Pickering, decision reserved until next sitting m Hawera; H H. Walker, appeal dismissed and lea\e m-anted until August 21. The appeal of John Lome Campoell was adjourned until the first sitting of the board after December 30 next. The appeal of Frederick Gawith, dairy farmer, Waihi, was further adjourne;. until December 30. The appeal of Albert Edward Fowler dairy" farmer. Matapu, having beea formally dismissed

The appeal of Kenneth Archibald C.irHiichaol, dairy fanner, Kakaramea, for whom Mr. Spratt appeared, was further adjourned. The appeal of Oscar Howard Marx, dairy farmer, Mangatoki (Mr. K. D. Welsh) was reviewed. Evidence in support of the appeal was given at length by Jacob Marx, the father of tiie appellant, as to the several farms in which the family were interested, and as to what they were doing in the way of production. Last season he said, the .family produced between 50 and (10 tons of cheese. Witness stated that he was supervising the farms of two of his sons at the front, one of whom had fallen, and that of his son who was drowned last year. If the appellant, who was working a farm of his own, and also gave assistance if required, were to go, witness would not be able to carry on, as he could not very well supervise another place. Witness realised that at a time like this everyone should do their best in the interests of the country and Empire, and claimed that he ana his family were really doing what they could for ihe country. There was only another son left in the First Division; the others were all Second Division men. The appellant also gave corroborative evidence. Decision was reserved.

The appeal of James Herbert Gwynne, farmer, Kaponga, was reconsidered 011 the application of the Defence Department on the ground of fresh material evidence. The appellant said there was no change in his position since he was last before the board. He did not think his father would be able to look after the farm, because of indifferent health. Captain Walker; Do you suggest that it is fair that a line strapping young man like you should remain at home while married men, with children, should have to go?— No. Captain Walker: I am glad to hear you say so. The board reserved its decision The appeal of Allan Campbell, dairy farmer, Pihama. was reconsidered. Mr. Campbell, the father of the appellant, gave evidence similar to that at the previous hearing. Decision was reserved. The appeal of Alexander Crocker, dairy farmer, Okaiawa (Mr. O'Dea) was reviewed. Decision was reserved. William John Walsh, dairy farmer,

Ngaerc (Mr. O'Dea), said his position, had not materially altered since he was last before the board. Decision was reserved. The appeal of George Ritchie, sharemilker, Manutahi, was then taken. Mr. O'Dea said appellant was one of four brothers who had a sharemilking contract. Two of the brothers had left with the 10th and 26th Reinforcements, and one was in'camp. This left the appellant to milk a herd of 85 cows with the assistance of his wife and a sister-in-law and his mother, an old lady of (15 years of age. Decision was reserved. The appeal of Albert George Johnston, dairy farmer, Waverlcy, was reviewed. Decision was reserved. James Steele, dairy farmer, Kaponga, whose appeal was also reviewed, said his position was the same as when he last appeared before the board. Decision was reserved. Decision was reserved in the case of Charles William Carlson, dairy farmer, Gltham, who said that he was still milking from 45 to 47 cows, and had been receiving the assistance of a returned brother from the front, who, however, could not work in wet weather. There was no one he could leave in charge of the farm. The appeal of Timothy Murphy, farmer, Kohi, Waverley, who did not ap-1 pear, was dismissed. Henry' Walter Harrison, dairy farmer, Hawera, said that his position was the same as when he first appealed. Decision was reserved. George Turner, farmer, Kaponga, stated that he desired a little time in order to fix up some ploughing for the spring crops. ' The appeal was dismissed, and the appellant granted leave until August 21.