SOME STRAIGHT TALK.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1917, Page 6

SOME STRAIGHT TALK.

AT MILITARY APPEAL COURT. OWNER AND TENANT. The attitude adopted by a Turanaki fanner, witness in a case heard by the Appeal Hoard on Wednesday came in for severe handling at 1 the hands of Captain Walker and members of the Board. It was a case in which, a young marrfed settler who had leased a place from a well-known Taranaki farmer was apAppellant, "Ralph Con Slyvestcr Gibson, Puniho Road, stated that he was aged 30 and had been twice married, first in 1913, and again in 1016. There were ifo children of the first marriage. He controlled two separate farms, his own leasehold of lG0"/acnis, Toughvbuslv carrying 31 cows milked by hand, and over 40 mi:rcd young stock. The other farm adjoined his, and was 388 acres, and was owned by Mr. Fred Old. Sentry Hill. It carried over 200 mixed-cattle. Appellant had one brother in Hue Second Division, a motor garage proprietor with little experience of dairying, and three married sisters. Appellant and his Wife were the only ones on the farm. He had tried to sell for eighteen months without success. The road was very bad, appellant having to-sledge'bis milk. It was iuipossile to.gct manure In. To Captain Walker: He -took .thedeaac up early in 1914, and had talkccDowsr the matter of disposing of the property with Mr. Old. lie did not know whether Mr. Old had endeavored to obtain another manager. Legally Mr. Old had him. bound. There was no war at the time the lease was fixed up. If Mr. Old would release him and make him an.allowance for permanent improvements, he would be prepared .to go. Mr. Frederick Old deposed that healso owned 122 acres at Sentry Hill, whilst his wife owned 124 acres at Manaia. These properties he supervised. Witness did the buying and selling for the Puniho farm and in busy seasons assisted with work. Without appellant being on the farm he would not risk fully stocking it up, owing to the losses he had sustained in the past through cattle stealing. He could not say what the value of the improvements done by Mr. Gibson were, but they would not be worth it to him from a grazing point of view. Calf paddocks, cart shed, harness room, cart tracks, etc., wouid be no use to him. Witness had two sons, I, l > and 20 years, on 110 acres at Sentry Hill. The elder had volunteered and been ballot ted, and rejected on both occasions. The Manaia property was also run by a son who had also been ballotted and turned clown. There was another son at Hawera in 'he Second Division, and a son up north ■who had also volunteered and been ballotted, and rejected. Mr. Gibson was his oulv employee who was able to go to the froiit. Witness, who admitted that he was not do badly oil, stated that he had placed no obstacles in the way of Gibson going. Gibson had been a very good servant, and he did not wish to part with him. As regards relatives, witness stated that "the country was full of them,'' but there were none that would be able io lake appellant's place. Capt. Walker: If anything happened to appellant? Witness: I would have to do my best to let the place and put some one on on wages. He would, he reiterated, throw iio obstacle in the way of appellant going, but he would not like to lose him. '•'Die country must do its duty to itself. I mu>t <l<> mine to myself."

Capt. Walker: Some men over military age are the worst shirkers, and the attitude you have taken is the worst. To the" chairman: 1 mean that the country has better heads than 1 have and should be able to manage better. lie did not see it his duty to help. .

Capt. Walker: Then in this ease you nut your interests first. If (lie country was in dead earnest about the «;ar Mr. Bennett here stated that appellant had placed his ease before the Hoard, and would abide by their decision as to whether ho should go or stay. Mr. McLaren said that it was a most shameful thing that after three years of the most deadly war that had ever been known, it was possible to meet men who, well oil', were so utterly selfish as to say. that their own personal interests were paramount to that of the country. The fliairman: What are you prepared to do to assist this man to get away? Witness: What do you expect me to do? Capt. Walker: I will tell you. You have several sons, all of whom have been declared unlit, and are making money. Witness: The country has made money out of me also. Captain Walker: But not a fighting man. You would say to Mr. Gibson, "You have spent so much on the land; I will pay you what may be considered' :i fair tiling by arbitration, and free; yon to go and fight." Witness: I've said better; I've told him: "If it's your lot to go and fight and come back again, you can still earry on the lease when you come back." That puts me in a far worse position than if lie sold the lease. To the chairman: He would not have to pay rent while away. Mr. Perry: And if he does not come back, what would be his wife's position'; That is the all important point. Witness: That aspect has not been mooted yet, but I would give the right to sell the lease. Captain Walker: Why not take it over'; Captain Walker: He estimates his value at £2OO. Would you give that? Witness: The work done would only be worth about £25 to me, the stumping being about all that could be use-' ful on a grazing farm. He was supposed' to do certain work. Ctptain Walker: nave you suliscribcd largely to patriotic purposes'; Witness: That's my private business. Captain Walker: I suggest that you might even sio to the extent of giving appellant £2OO. Witness: No, I would sooner keep the place till he returns. If he did not return I would see that his widow did not want. Mr. McLaren: You forget that there is n third party to be considered—viz., your

country. Witness: I've offered to free him to go. You want me to pay him* Mr. McLaren: You have given no son. Witness: They volunteered, but the country would not take them. Captain Walker: They are here to make money out of the war. Witness: 1 am no hotter oil' than other settlers. 1 am worse olf since the war. The first year I sold no fat cattle; the second year they dropped back to stores. If dairvinu, I would have been better off. Mr. Perry: Are we to understand that you will not agree to arbitration? Witness: No, I am quite willing and able to decide for myself. Mr. McLaren thought that there should be conscription on other things besides

' Mr. iPerry: I think so, too. •.■'■•'■« : Captain Walker said that this was a most disgraceful case. He hadjno hesi-'tat-on in telling Mr. Old straight < out from tho shoulder that it 1 was a disgrace. There were widows who had every son killed at the front, and here wkb a maawithout any sons at the front who put personal interests first. Mr. Perry: We might compel arbitration. Mr. Bennett resented the. ease being termed a disgraceful one, pointing out that his client was prepared to go. The chairman said that the board"and ' everyone in court with a grain of common sense would know that Captain Walker did not refer to appellant. The chairman, to witness: Is that your final word aboutTefusing to agree to arbitration? Witness:-It is quite possible Gibson aiuM may come to terms without interference from anyone else. Mr. McLaren: Don't you realise that, it is a matter not only for yon and Gibson, but for a third party; your couutry also? » Witness: I realise that. W'itness explained that he had not meant to put-his personal interests in front of the country, the Government of which could rule whenever they liked to do so. Later, he stated that after l appellant and he had met, more might be heard about a settlement. The chairman: The case will be adjourned uiftil Friday to give you-an opportunity of meeting appellant. Will I have to come again on Friday-? The chairman: Yes, if it is any hardship to you to come again, perhaps we could pay your expenses. After luncheon Mr. Bennett stated that appellant and Mr. Old had met, and there was every prospect of settlement. Mr. Old also wished to state that the attitude that he conveyed to the board that morning was not what he had intended. The chairman: Mr. Old can make personally any explanation that he may wish on Friday. There will be no need for ancallant to beUreaaat.