RESERVISTS' APPEALS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1917, Page 7

RESERVISTS' APPEALS.

hawera sitting. The First Wellington Military Service Board sat m Hawera on Wednesday. . APPEALS WITHDRAWN. The following appeals were withdrawn and formally dismissed: Frederick Jewell, farmer, Normanby; Herbert Jensen Gedge. shearer, Stratford; Michael Ryan, laborer, Hawera. Ryan had been medically boarded C2. 02 CASES. The following appeals were formally dismissed, appellants having been medically boarded C2:—John William Gedge, farmer Puniwhakau; Jack Alexander Howard, farmer, Hawera. The appeal of James Bolger, dairy farmer, Mangatoki, for whom Mr. O'Dea appeared, which was adjourned at the August sitting for a report from the efficiency trustees as to whether a sharemilker could be procured, was reconsidered.

The chairman: The report is that the trustees could get a sharemilker. The appellant said he did not think the person recommended was quite suitable. He did not consider sharemilkers were a success, He would sooner sell the herd and put young stock on tlie farm to graze. The Board reserved its decision.

The appeal of Charles McOuinn, farmer, Whangamomona, for whom Mr. O'Dea appeared, which had been adjourned from the previous sitting to enable the appellant to toy and dispose of his property, was renewed, Mr. O'Dea said the appellant's property was situated in the back country and comprised 300 acres.

The appellant gave evidence that lie had been unable to dispose of his farm. He had arranged to sell his lease, and placed his position before the Taranaki Land Board, who refused to transfer his section to another on the ground of land aggregation.

Captain Walker pointed out the absurdity of the general application of leaving the last man on the farm. Here was a case of a young man willin? to go to the front, and who arranged with his neighbor to buy his lease and stock. But the Land Board refused to sanction tho transfer on the score of land aggregation. He quoted a suppositious case of two young men each farming 30 acres and running 15 cows. It would he absurd in that case to say that the last man on each farm must be left when one man could farm both places efficiently and without risk of loss of production. That was not the policy of the Government. He suggested that the Militaty Board should make enquiries through the Minister of Lands for an explanation from the Land Board with regard to this case; it 1 certainly seemed absurd to say that there was a risk of aggregation to allow 300 acres of rough country to he ndded to 900 acres of similar class land, the effect in this case was to prevent a man going to the front who was eligible and fit, and who could go without any hardship to himself. The ease was adjourned till Monday next to allow of the attendance of Mr. Heslop, a member of the Land Board. Jesse Iscar, farmer, Midhirst, (Mr O'Dea) who had a 91-acre farm and was milking 19 cows entirely on his own, asked for further time.

Captain Walker contended that in justice to the fathers, mothers, and widows who had already suffered through the war a young fit man with no responsibilities and no dependents, such as appellant, should be sent to camp. There should be some means of relieving him of his farm. The case was adjourned in order that Mr. Jackson, the former owner, he subpoenaed to give evidence. George Pickering, (Mr. O'Dea) dairy farmer. Hawera (adjourned appeal on the ground of undue hardship and public interest) said that conditions had not improved. He was farming 70 acres and milking 45 cows single-handed, and had "illy the assistance of his mother and lister, who had had no previous experi.nce.

Case adjourned till Saturday, to enable the evidence of Hikaka, Oeo, the owner of appellant's farm, to be taken. P. E. Callaghan, (Mr. O'Dea) farmer, >Tgaere, applied for a re-hearing of his -use. The original case was dismissed nn August 20, with leave till December Appellant's contention was that : is elderly mother and sister could not :iossibly run the farm. Decision reserved.

Wm. Jas. Coates, dairy farmer. Lowgarth. This case was adjourned from the August sitting for a report from the Efficiency Board as to what assistance might be got from neigflbors or from a brother in Eltham. The Board did not provide the information asked for, and in regard to the brother, appellant said that he would not take on fawning on any consideration. In rqply to Captain Walker, appellant said that he had a brother-in-law who had recently sold his farm, but he had not asked him to take his (appellant's place. j Case adjourned to the 22nd, in order i that the evidence of the brother-in-law i in question, Mr. A. Bulmer, might be taken in New Plymouth. [ Edward Thomas, dairy farmer, j Olcaiawa. This case was adjourned j from August 20 in order that appellant j might consult Mrs. Joll's representative. I—Decisin reserved.