RESERVISTS' APPEALS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1917, Page 6

RESERVISTS' APPEALS.

SITTING OP MILITARY SERVICE BOARD. • i ' I A sitting of the No. 1 Wellington Dis- , triet Military Service Board (Messrs D. j G. A. Cooper, S.M., chairman, Guy Wil- , liams. I). McLaren) was held in New Ply- , mouth yesterday. Captain Walker, miliItary representative, was present as was ] also Major Cox, officer commanding the , Group. • , AN INDISPENSABLE SLAUGHTERMAN. The first ease dealt with was th'at of Walter Fuller, beef slaughterman, Waitara, a voluntary recruit, whose employers (Messrs T'. Borthwick and Sons) appealed. Leave on a previous hearing had been granted to July 31, and the application now was for a further hearing Mr. H. R. Billing, who appeared for the employers, called the foreman of Borthwick's Waitara slaughtering department, who agreed with a statement submitted by the accountant (Mr. H. A. Lennon). This showed that the normal strength was nine beef butchers. At the bejrinning of last season one enlisted, whilst in March another took ill. They had lost one man recently, and if Fuller went that would reduce the number to five. Then if another man took sick next season the number would be reduced to four, or less than half. They had exhausted all possible sources of supply. The capacity of the works was 200 beef cattle daily. Fuller's contribution was 2100, representing between 500 and 600 tons of beef for the men at the front. Even with appellant's help, the works would probably be crippled; without, they would be hopelessly crippled. They were short in all departments. For the last 32 years he had been able to obtain men by keeping in touch with his butchers who knew their movements, but flow he could not obtain men. He found that it was useless advertising, because while one might receive a lot of applications, one would get inefficient men. A I man required to commence young, and it took two years before he became expert. A mutton butcher could not be put on to the beef They would cut the hides, I which meant a loss of us per hide. They made as much use,as possible of the ordinary unskilled men so as to save the butchers and enable them to get on with their work. If they would not obtain a full compliment of butchers the works would run at a loss. They could not work longer hours, because it was trying work, and the men, being on piece work, worked harder. The nine men could kill 200 in the day at 2s per head. Witness understood that was the attitude the Australian Union was taking to prevent the men going to the war. Mr. McLaren: Are you in a position to prove that? Witness stated that it was only hearsay. Continuing, lie said the works ran from Nofember to August There was a great scarcity of beef butchers, which was skilled labor.

To Captain Walker: They were worse off now than when the appeal was lodged. To Mr. McLaren: They employed nine beef butchers last season and these were constantly employed, there being very little variation in their output. To the chairman: He could not say hew many they started the season with last year, but by Ohristmas time the Board was full. Mr Williams did not see how the works could be, kept going fully throughout the season. Mr. McLaren stated that Mr. Reardon had been before the Board several times but had never given the impression that the Australian Union adopted that attitude.

Tlie chairman: Wlrtt will be the position if the appeal is allowed and Fuller is unwilling to leave camp? Witness: He is willing to do whatever his country wishes but he prefers to go [on killing. The chairman: Beef or Germans? Mr. McLaren: Whether he goes or stays, lie will go on killing. Decision reserved. DAIRY FARMER'S APPEAL. Ernest Harrington Gibson, dairy farmer, Okato (Mr. Bennett), whose appeal had been heard on August 15, stated that there was no difference in his position now, save that he had sold his dairy herd and stocked up with young cattle and sheep.

The chairman handed Mr. Bennett a copy of the Efficiency Board's report. To Captain Walker: Appellant stated t it he had ploughed 50 acres which he proposed putting into swedes at Christmas, with the exception of 17 acres of soft turnips. He had absolutely no one to look after his farm, which 'he had tried to sell. He had 100 sheep. 66 yearlings and 15 grown cattle on the place. He toojc the place up eighteen months ggo. —Decision reserved.

A URUTI CASE. , Matthew Day, dairy farmer, Uruti (Mri Bennett), appealed on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship. He was aged 32, and farming-389J acres of freehold, of which about 200 was in grass, the balance being bush. The property carried 180 breeding ewes, 22 milking cows (hand) and about 50 head of other stock. HJe expected to put in about 20 acres of crop. Appellant had three brothers. The eldest was aged 48 and on active service at Samoa. Another brother was dairy farming on 248 acres at Uruti, six miles from appellant, and had been called up, but/had not been medically examined. He did not know ■ the whereabouts of his other brother. He had one single and three married Bisters, two of the latter being farming. All the help appellant had was his sister. His mother, aged 64, resided with him. He was classed CI by the Medical Board, and did not think the farm could be carried on if he was taken off. It was impossible to obtain labor to do the work he did, his hours being 12 to 141 per day. To the chairman: Appellant had had the farm about nine or ten years. He was the only male worker on it for the last two or three years.—Decision reserved. • A PATRIOTIC FAMILY. Henry Pierson, farmer, Warea (Mr. A. H. Johnstone), whose appeal had been adjourned at the August sitting, was next called on. Appellant deposed that he had communicated with his brother-in-law, whom he had never previously seen. The reply submitted showed that the latter had had no experience, never 'having milked a cow in his life. Mr. A. H. Johnstone pointed out that not only was appellant farming his own property but was looking after a farm of 109 acres for a brother who was at the troofc To the chairman: Both his brothers - were

to the usual condition as to reporting to the group commander. MAIL CONTRACTOR'S DILEMMA. Arthur John Scott, motor mechanic, Inglewood (Mr. A. H. Johnstone), also applied for time. He deposed that with Mr. Tindlf! he held a contract from the Government to carry the mail from Inglewood to Purangi. They ran one car, but had three to look after. He took up the contract in January, and could not give it up until the end of the year. His partner was called up in March, and he took into partnership another brother, who also went into camp in September. One of his guarantors had also been called up. The other guarantor (Mr. Tindle, senr.) would be forced by the postal authorities to carry on the contract.

The chairman and Captain Walker stated that the matter had been threshed out with the postal authorities, who could ask the sureties to do their best to get some one to carry on the contract, but, failing the inability of the sureties to do so, could not enfore the penalty. Mr. Johnstone pointed out that the lengtli of time when they could lawfully give up the contract was not great. Appellant had just turned 20.

To the chairman: He did not know of any one that could take his place. To Captain Walker: Tho local postmaster reckoned the sureties would have to carrv it on.

Leave of absence was granted to January 14, the appellant having been clasBified CI. NOT A RESERVIST.

Charles Ullmer, watersider, New Plymouth, who was medically boarded 02, stated he was over age. He gave evidence to the effect that he was 47 years of age on September 15 last. He was unable to produce a birth certificate, but produced a letter from the secretary of the Nelson Education Board, which stated that he was at the Lyall school in July 1882, when he was in the 4th standard, and was aged 12. The appeal was allowed, the chairman stating that witness was not a reservist. LEAVE GRANTED. Thos. Schreider, farmer, Inglewood, whose brother had been classed C2, withdrew his appeal, and asked for leave until December to enable him to get some ploughing done and to make arrangements to sell the cows. The appeal was dismissed, leave being granted until December 12. The Moa Road Board (Mr. A. H. Johnstone) appealed for leave until the end of November for J. T. Bowler, aged 32, single, engine driver, who had been classed CI. Leave was granted until December W.

Alex G. Monatt, manager for Chambers Bros., applied for leave until shearing was over for William Angus McWhirter, shepherd, Dannevirke, who had gone into camp. It was resolved to recommend leave until January 8.

Percy James Julian, Omata, Cl, married, applied for leave until' November 23. He stated he wag farming 13 acres and milking seven cows, which ho would like to dispose of. His wife was at present in the hospital. Leave granted until November 17. APPEALS ADJOURNED. The cases of Joseph Bartholomew Breretort,' farmer, Toko, and . Patrick Dwyer Raill, dairy farmer, Koru, were adjourned till next sitting of the board, appellants not having been medically examined. The ease of Ernest Charles Locke, farmer, of New Plymouth, who has been in the hospital, was adjourned until December. WITHDRAWN AND DISMISSED. The following appeals were withdrawn and formally dismissed, appellants having been medically boarded 02: Norman Putt, farmer, Okato; Sidnev George Perrctt, farm assistant, Miro; James Noble Martin, farmer, Tarurutangi; John Thomas Smith, farmer, Matau; Garnet Eyles C. Prosser, farmer, Rahotu; Ronald Brooklyn Gray, farmer, Okato.

The appeal of Harper Lepper, medically boardeu D, was also withdrawn and formally dismissed.

The appeals of Geo. Harvey, laborer. Rahotu, who had been classed CI, and of William Norman Perry, saddler, New Plymouth, both of whom did not appear, were dismissed. UNWILLING TO APPEAL.

William James Coates (Mr. Stewart!. This was a case which had been adjourned from Hawera so that a witness could be called. There was no appearance of the witness, and the case was adjourned until the afternoon, when Philip Alma Bullmer, motor mechanic, New Plymouth, stated that he was in the Second Division Class A. He had never stated that lie would take appellant's place on his mother's farm. He would not manage a farm for anyone, nor if he went to the front would he put on a manager, because he did not believe they were a success. Witness had enlisted twice and had been turned down. He had given up farming because his health would not stand it. He gave the rumor an emphatic denial that he was prepared to manage the farm. He thought it had been stated for spite, and he would like to know who had informed Captain Walker. Captain Walker said the statement had been made to him .probably in the hope that it would induce witness to put Ms best foot forward and let his brother-in-law get away to the front. Mr. McLaren asked whether witness did not realise that under existing eircumstances a good many things were done that were not altogether satisfactory. Witness: Probably so. .... Mr. McLaren suggested that he might take his brother-in-law's place. Witness: Suppose I am drawn in the ballot on October 29. You want me to appeal? That I would never do. Decision was reserved. A KAIMATA CASE. George William Dobson, farmer, Inglewood (Mr. Bennett), who was classed as CI, deposed he was 28 years of age and married. He was farming 198 acres of freehold on the Everett Road, all being in grass except five acres of shelter bußh. He' milked 47 cows by machine and carried 30 held of young stock and six horses. He cropped about 15 acres. Appellant's father, aged 56, was living retired in New Plymouth, and appellant and his wife were the only ones on the farm.' His brother was farming on l'Jo acres at Kaimata. To Captain Walker: Witness had been on the farm seven years, but tool; it over 2* years ago, when his father retired from health reasons. Dairying was carried on on both farms. His father could not stand hard work. Appellant s place had been on the market, and, as it could not be sold, appellant went on dairying in preference to letting it go idle. This was after tfce war, started.

last season that he took the farm over. Captain Walker.- Why do you try to mislead the board t Witness: This is my second reason milking on the farm. Captain Walker: You tell us after I have drawn it out of you, like a, dentist drawing a tooth! To Captain Walker: He could not say whether or not it was after the Military Seivice Act had passed that his father transferred the two farms to his sons and came in to New Plymouth to live. Previously 40 cows were milked on one farm and 33 on the other.

Witness then explained that in 1915 his brother milked 50 cows on appellant's present farm, and witness milked 40 on tho homestead, , Appellant's farm was not milked on in the first season, because it was nearly all standing bush. He made a mistake regarding the length of time, he had been on the farm, owing to confusing the seasons.

To Mr. McLaren: He had appealed in February, but was classed 02. Mr. C. E. Dobson, father of the appellant, deposed that .the transfer was signed on August 1, 1916. He was then unable to carry on the farm himself. He knew one son had to take his chance at the ballot. The transfer was made to give him a start in life, and not to evade military service because he had previously stated that his son should volunteer. If the board said the son had to go to the front he would carry on the farm to the best of his ability, but did not think that he could run it as a dairy farm. To Captain Walker: Witness was prepared to do his best, but could not do milking or stumping. To the chairman: He would look after the place, but could not milk on it. Decision was reserved. AN APPELLANT COMMENDED. Norman Errol Sampson, storekeeper, of Sentry Hill, who was classed CI, stated that he was prepared to go into camp on Tuesday next. He was not arranging anything in connection with his business, as there was a probability of a certain percentage of those entering the camp being rejected. If able to stand the training he would like to apply for a few weeks' leave to fix up the business. The chairman congratulated appellant on the spirit shown, and stated that if he applied to the commandant for leave the board would recommend it. RESERVED DECISIONS. ; After the luncheon adjournment, the Board announced the following reserved decisions: Walter Fuller, boef slaughterman, Waitara.—Leave granted until January 8, when the case will be reviewed. , Ernest Harrington Gibson, farmer, Ohato, decision reserved sine die. Matthew Day, dairy farmer, Uruti, adjourned until next sitting; in the meantime the ease to be referred to the Efficiency Board. In the case of' Chas. Robinson, adjourned from Taumarunui, the chairman stated that the Financial Assistance Board had gTanted the assistance recommended by the board; the appeal would therefore be dismissed, leave being granted until November 13.

The appeal of George Henry Rayner, adjourned from Hawera, having been withdrawn, was formally dismissed. The board adjourned until 10 a.m. today.