MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1917, Page 7

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

NEW PLYMOUTH SITTINGS. ] A sitting of the First Wellington Military Service Board was opened in New Plymouth yesterday, the members beinir Messrs D. C. A. Cooper, S.M. (chairman), Guy, C. Williams, and D. McLaren. Captain Walker, military representation, appeared for the Defence Department. The cases dealt with were mostly appeals, adjourned sine die from previous sittings. A WIDOW'S SON. John Noonan Jones, dairy farmer, Warea, for whom Mr. A. H. Johnstone appeared, appealed on the ground of undue hardship. Mr. Johnstone said this case was heard by No. 3 Appeal Board and adjourned for a report from the Efficiency Trustees. The appellant was the only available son of a widow, his father having died in 1905. The chairman said the Board had all the available facts before them as well as the report of the Efficiency Trustees. The Board had been specially requested not to show the reports of the Efficiency Trustees but had always only thought i it fair to do so, especially to appellants, in order that they might know the reasons for the board's decisions. Mrs. Jones, mother of the appellant stated that when her hußbard died he left her with seven young children. Her brother had helped her to work the farm until he went to the front; now she had only the appellant to assits. There v-as heavy work to do in connection with the farm, which she could not manage. Her nexit eldest boy was 14 and still went to school. The appellant's age was 21. Appeal dismissed; leave granted till August 21.

HOME SERVICE MEN'S POSITION. Joseph William Burgess, farmer, Miro, Inglewood, appeared before the board in connection with his adjourned appeal, his application now being really for time.

Mr. A. H. Johnstone, on behalf of the appellant, said he case had been held over to enable the appellant to make arrangements for the management of his farm.

The appellant was examined, and stated that he had a home service man who might be able to look after one place, but there was the danger of him being called up for active service. Captain Walker said there was no likelihood of C2 men being called up unless they were wanted in the Dominion. That was the* position to be faced in the meantime, although, of course, it was not impossible that war exigencies might cause some changes. The appellant, in answer to Mr. John-, stone, said all he now wanted was a little mora time to complete a boundary fence and make arrangements for the management of his property. Appeal dismissed, leave gianted till September 18.

OF ALIEN ORIGIN. In the case of Thomas Biesick, dairy farmer, Ratapiko, Captain Walker said the appeal had been adjourned from a previous sitting owing to the appellant's parentage (German-Pole). His brother had been in camp but had been rejected on account of his nationality, and he (Captain Walker) understood the authorities would not take the present appellant into camp. The case was adjourned sine die and exemption granted from military service in the meantime.

WOMEN'S WORK. Leslie Wilberforco Richards, farmer, Avenue road, New 'Plymouth, appeared in connection with his adjourned appeal, and was also represented by Mr. Frank Wilson. Mr. Wilson said there had been no change in the circumstances since the last hearing, excent thi>t the appellant's brother, married since the war, had called up and was awaiting medical examinaton. The appellant, in answer to Captain Walker, said hp did not think his sister could do the necessary work on the farm. Captain Walker produced a book entitled "Women's Work," issued by the British Crovemment, in which there were illustrations of women engaged in all sorts of avocations. It should be realthat the time had come when the women of New Zealand would have to do more work than they were doing in order to relieve the single men: either that or the married men would have to go and leave their wives and families behind them. Decision reserved till first sitting in September for medical evidence as to condition of crippled brother, who is desired by the board to appear before them.

AN AGGRESSTVE APPELLANT. David James Shaw Mdßean, farmer, Ngatamiro, ■whose ease was adjourned from a former sitting, said there had been no change in his circumstances. He was a poor man and unable to purchase wire to fence his pro-perty. To compel him to go to the war would be unjust to him as well as to others. If that was the way the Board 'was going to treat men, then— The chairman said the appellant must not adopt an insolent tone. He was there asking for a concession and should treat the 'board m-itli respect. Appellant said he had no intention of treating the board otherwise. Decision reserved till December 30; exemption granted from military service provided appellant remainß in same position. FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES. John Joseph Hanover, dairy farmer, Tarata, stated that there were no alterations in the circumstances of his case since its adjournment on Marcn 14. Captain Walker examined appellant as to details of his financial position, and stated that he hoped to lease part of his property. If he got £SO a year from the Financial Assistance Board he would be quite satisfied. Case held over pending the consideration of the circumstances 'by the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board.

UNCHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES. Patrick O'Sullivati, dairy farmer, Oka/to, who was represented by Mr. A. H. Johnstone and also appeared personally, stated that his ciroumstances had not changed since the adjournment. —Appeal dismissed, leave without pay till December 30. Albert William McEwan, dairy farmer, Carrington road, New Plymouth, for whom Mr. .Johnstone appealed, stated [that his eircumsfanecs had not altered since his ease was adjourned in July. | Tlte brother, who was in the hospital at that was now out of that institu- | t!"ii l ut was unfit for work. There were iou; other brothers. One was

at ,samp and another was waiting the decision of the board on his appeal. Of the two others one had "been killed In action and the other was still with the Expeditionary Force. Appellant was 46 years of age and subject to attacks of deafness.—Appeal dismissed; leave granted till December 30; «xemptsd from military service provided appellant remains in present position. Reginald Charles Jury (Mr. Johnstone) cave evidence in support of his appeal. He was a dairy fanner at Tikorangi. He owned one farm and his father, aged 73, owned two others. One of the latter had fallen into a very bad state, and he and his father had recently been trying to do it up, and if 'was for that purpose, lis well as to enable him to do weed clearing and other work, that he desired a little time.—Appeal dismissed; leave granted till August 21. William Arthur Brown, farmer, Te Tawa,: Inglewood, stated' that there had been no change in his circumstances since he was last before the (board. He had obtained assistance on the farm About a month after that date, but the man would not stay. It was impossible to obtain suitable men in the district at the present time. Evidence was also given by the appellant's father, Mr. T. Brown, who stated that there were *no single men left in the district and that all the milking was done by the women. —Adjourned till Friday for details as to financial position.

STRUCK OUT. The following appeals were dismissed, there being no appearance of the appellants:—William- Reed Wheeler, farmer, Inglewood; Colin Jaspeh Hinge, butcher, Lepperton. ' The board rose till 10 a.m. to-day. TO-DAY'S APPEALS. The following appeals have Ibeen set dawn for to-day:— Scrivener, Roy, bootnwuker, New Plymouth. Bridgemivn, Harold, road surfaceman, Tariki. Brown, Francis Wm., farmer, Lepperton. Kay, Isaac Kaliski, master tailor, New Plymouth. Locke, Ernest Chas., farmer, Dorset Rd. Morey, Arthur Norman, motor driver, New Plymouth. Healion, Peter, dairy farmer, Warea. M'Fetridge, Martin, farmer, Waitoriki. Luke, James Herbert, farm manager, Lepperton. Moroney, Daniel, dairy farmer, Bahotu. Cakes, Chas. Clifford, fireman, Spotswood. Hoby, Russell, farmer, Bell Block. Ihlein, Charles Henry, fanner, Tarata, Robertson, George, checsetnaker, Oaonui. Mace, (Percival Carrington, Tataraimaka. Parker, Percy George, cheesemaker, Rahotu. Murphy, Thomas, laborer, Egmont Village. Rowe, Geo. William, fanner, Sentry Hill. M'Auley, John Joseph, dairy farmer, ICoru. Costain; Rev. A. M., Bemuera, Auckland (appealed for by President of 1 Methodist Conference, Rev. W. A. Sinclair).