RESERVISTS' APPEALS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 October 1917, Page 7

RESERVISTS' APPEALS.

BITTING OF MILITARY SERVICE' BOARD. _ The sitting of the No. 1 Military Service Board (Messrs D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., chairman; D. McLaren, and Guy Williams) was continued yesterday. Captain Walker represented the military authorities, and Lieut. Crutch the group officer. UNDER AGE. Michael John O'Donnell, sheep farmer, Tongaporutu, appealed on the ground that he was under age. He was not present, but the Medical Board's report statthe apparent age as 19. The appeal was allowed. AN ADJOURNED CASE. Leslie Wilberforce Richards (Mr. F. E. Wilson), farmer, New Plymouth. This appeal had been adjourned from the last Bitting to enable a medical certificate to be produced regarding the brother's health. This was submitted.. Since the appeal was first heard, two married brothers had gone to the front, making three of the family altogether, the single brother being wounded. Decision was reserved sine die, subject to the usual conditions. AN OARURA CASE. Wilfred Herman Sorrenson, dairy farmer, Oakura (Mr. J. E. Wilson), appealed on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship. He was aged 33, and was farming with his father an area of of ovej 200 acres freehold and 117 acres They had also taken a 'herd of 50 cows from Mr. Adlam, which appellant and 'hi3 father, aged 69, milked by hand. Appellant's father met with an accident eight years ago, and he could not wall; about much. The farm was fairly hilly and needed close attention for weeds. He had considered the possibility of putting on share milkers, but this was not feasible from a financial point of view. Appellant had no brothers and two married sisters. Decision was reserved sine die. AN OKATO APPEAL. Harold Douglas Shaw, farmer, Okato. (Mr. A. H. Johnstone), aged 33, deposed that 'he managed his mother's farms of 213 acres on the Leitli Road, which carried 60 cows, milked by machines, 40 calves, "8 horses and 3 bulls, and of 150 acres at Petone, which carried 30 yearlings, 10 store cattle and four horses. Appellant had seven brothers, four married, two at tho front, and a single brother at home, aged 23, whose arm was injured. Appellant had three married sisters. Though passed fit, appellant had three times been rejected for life insurance. To Capt. Walker: His brother was drawn in the ballot and turned down, but was able to take his share of the milking and do ploughing. Occasionally appellant could obtain assistance. To Mr. McLaren: Appellant cropped about 30 acres each year. Decision was reserved. FINE FAMILY RECORD. In the appeal of 'Enoch Kindberg, engineer, New Plymouth, Mr. J. H. Quilliam stated he was appearing for the New Plymouth Borough Council, who were appealing for time to enable some one to take his place. R. 11. Bartley, electrical and tramways engineer, said appellant was a shift or charge engineer at the power or distribution station. They were considerably understaffed. The full complement was 18, whereas they only had 12 at present, and four of these were boys. Fifteen was the minimum stair required. Appellant's position was a responsible one, and witness would prefer a more experienced man if he could get one. Four of appellant's brothers were at the front and two had returned. Appellant was anxious to go, having enlisted at the age of 19, but turned down because of his youth. Witness had advertised in Wellington for men to fill the temporary position at £3 per week, but could not get them. Mr. McLaren expressed surprise at the low rate of wages for such a responsible position, pointing out that many classes of general laborers received more. Mr. Bartley pointed out that this was higher wages than was paid elsewhere for similar work, which -was really a graduate position. He was practically a switch board attendant.

To Mr. Williams: Appellant would be responsible for the running of the station.

Continuing, Mr. Bartley stated that' at the power-house they had two experienced men, where they should have had four, and at the sub-station they only had one where they should have three. Three shifts were worked at the power-house and two at the substation. Two men were necessary at the evening shift at the power-house. Tho present staff worked long hours, and he had difficulty in letting them have their statutory half-holiday. Two more men ! were leaving shortly. It was not possible to put more work on the men with safety, and he would not expect them to I stay if lie did. If appellant left it would probably mean reducing the hours | of supply. It would be dangerous to put on an inexperienced youth, as there would be the risk of him killing himself and damaging the plant. Anticipating that appellant would have to leave, he had obtained men to fill his place, but they had left. It would take six months to train a man, and he had been considering the question of training a returned soldier. He would use every effort to release appellant. To Mr. McLaren: 'The electric light staff was not working under any industrial award. To Capt. Walker: The minimum time he required exemption would be six months. He had previously trained technical college students, but had never trained a man who knew nothing of electricity. To obtain men, he would have to take them from others who would be placed, in the same position as he was, and, as a matter of principle, he objected to this course. The appeal was dismissed, leave being granted till December 12, with the understanding that further leave may be aplied for if necessary. AN INEXPERIENCED FARMER. Herbert Baldwin, farmer, Inglewood (Mr. F. E. Wilson) aged 22, deposed that with his father and mother he was farming 160 acres at Dudley Road, on which 35 cows were milked by machine. His only brother, aged 24, went to the front with the 24tli reinforcements, not appealing when drawn in the ballot. The farm was rough. Chas. William Baldwin, father of appellant, deposed that prior to coming to New Zealand six years ago he had had no experience of farming. He could out weeds, but could not plough owing to a deformed foot. He could get no assistance, all the lads that used to help him having gone to the front. He wa* solely

dependent upon his son for running the farm. • To the chairman: He bought the property just as war was declared. lie knew a lot about fanning now, but was unable to do it. He had tried to obtain assistance but could not. Mr. Williams suggested that witness should undergo an operation for the removal of his toe. Witness stated that specialists had advised against it. Decision was reserved sine die. TIME FOR SHEARING. Michael William Hogan, fanner, Tariki (Mr. H. R. Billing) applied for leave until January to enable him to get through the shearing. Appellant with his brothers had two farms, one of 255 acres at Tariki, and another of 1000 acres at Tarata. 'He had two single brothers, one being in camp, whilst the other looked after the Tarata farm. At Tariki they carried 300 s'heepand 40 or 50 head of cattle, and at Tarata 1000 breeding ewes and 150 head of cattle, and at Tariki they cropped 30 acres. Mr. Billing asked whether the Board could recommqnd financial assistance. The chairman said that the Board could only recommend this in case of undue hardship. The appeal was dismissed, leave being granted till' January Bth. A FIREMAN'S APPEAL. ' Walter Glifford Arden, fireman, New Plymouth, whose appeal was adjourned from the August sitting, produced a certificate regarding his wife's 'health, and also financial statements. Appellant stated that lie did not_ desire total exemption, but required financial assistance to meet the doctor's and hospital bills. Captain Walker pointed out that under the amended scale appellant would receive £3 3s per week as. well as hi 9 keep and clothes, and his wife would probably be equally as well , off financially as at present. (He also pointed out that appellant had been drawn in the third ballot. Decision was reserved. EE SERVED DECISIONS. Tho Board delivered decisions in the following cases:— Harold Broadwome, farmer, Ngatoro, appeal dismissed, leave being granted till December 13. Joseph Edward Taylor, farmer, Kaimiro, adjourned till next sitting for doctor's certificate as to state of the father's health. Hugh Wishart Paterson, farmer, Kaimiro. decision reserved sine die. After luncheon the following reserved decisions were announced: Harold D. Shaw, farm manager, Okato, adjourned sine die. Walter Clift'ofd Ardern, fireman, New Plymouth, adjourned till December sittings. WITHDRAWN! AND DISMISSED. The following cases were withdrawn, and formally dismissed, appellants having been medically boarded 02:— Arthur Edward Woodward, sharemilker, Okato. Howard W. G. Shoemark, farmer, Kaimiro. William Jamea Brennan, laborer, New Plymouth. MEDICALLY BOARDED D. Cuthbert George 'Eves, farmer, Warea. WITHDRAWN. Percy Burdett Butler, dairyman, New Plymouth (Mr. Bennett) withdrew his appeal, having made satisfactory arrangements to go into camp on Nov 13. Leave was granted accordingly, the chairman expressing satisfaction with appellant's attitude. William Lucino Carey, farmer, Puniho, who had not been medically examined, withdrew his appeal. Edgar M. Treadhea, bootmater, New Plymouth, and Henry Robt. Armitage, plumber, New Plymouth, did not appear, and the appeals were struck out. ADJOURNED. The appeal of Sydney Roy Lovell, hairdresser. New Plymouth, who had not been medically examined, was adjourned till next sitting.