MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1917, Page 7

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

HAWERA EXEMPTIONS. The First Wellington Military Service Board resumed its sittings in Hawera on Monday. .RESERVED DECISION^ The Board gave its reserved decisions in the following appeals heard on Saturday: Josse Isgar, Tuna, adjourned Until the next Bitting; Arthur Morris Evans, Awatuna, appeal dismissed and leave granted until the April draft; James Edward Sole, Hawera, adjourned until the March sitting; William Keith Chapman, adjourned until January sitting; Walter Gordon Wilson, Kohuratahi, decision reserved sine die, provided appellant's brother remains in camp. HOME SERVICE, The following appeals were formally dismissed, appellants having been medically boarded C2 (home service); Richard S. Flower, Lowgarth; Gordon Butler, Waverley; Charles Kenneth Ross, Waitotara. The appeal of Frederick Cook, Stratford, wa? adjourned until the first sitting after February <3, appellant having been,medically boarded 82. The appeal of Tom Davis, Kohuratahi, was formally dismissed, appellant having been medically boarded unfit for active service. METHODIST CHURCH APPEALS. The Rev. W. A. Sinclair, president of the New Zealand Methodist Conference, appealed for the men and home missionaries: Mr. G. H. Cule, missionary, Paraparaumu; Rev. G. B. Hinton, clergyman, Waitara; Mr. J. Tyson, missionary, Methven; Mr, F. C. Pace, missionary, Kawakawa; Rev. R. E. Fordyce, Taihape. The Rev. Mr. Sinclair gave evidence that each of the home missionaries were in charge of large and scattered districts; home missionaries held 'the districts until they were able to support properly or dained clergymen. At present the cliurch had no one to take the places of the missionaries, as the reserves were now practically exhausted. There were at the present time between 20 and 30 vacancies, and in some cases the church Jiad to be closed. The home missionaries occupied the same position as ordained ministers. The Rev. Mr. Hintcn at Waitara had a wide district to cover, and the church could hot do anything to replace him. As far as he could make out there were only 'thirteen First Division men on the church's staff left. "We have done our very utmost to release men," added tlie witness.

The chairmVn (Mr. Cooper, S.M.): We know that your church has done its utmost. The Board reserved its decisions sine die in a)l the cases, provided that tlie reservists remained in their present positions. EMPLOYER'S APPEAL. Mrs J. T. Kilpatrick, Stratford, (Mr. O'Dea) applied for exemption for her son, John Robert Kilpatrick, farmer, who went into camp with the 35th Reinforcements. Appellant gave evidence that she occupied a leasehold farm of 93 acres, on which she was milking 28 cows. Her husband was practically an invalid, and she produced a medical certificate. Robert went into camp with the 33th Reinforcements and was at present 011 temporary leave. Tlie eldest son was iu the British Xavy, another was serving in France, and a third had recently left New Zealand with o draft. She did not think she could manage the farm by lierself, as her husband woirld never 'be able to do any heavy Work. John had never been off the farm .until he went into camp. The Board adjourned the case until the January sitting to enable it to obtain a report from the Efficiency Trustees. A WHEELWRIGHT'S APPEAL. ' Arthur John Griffiths, wheelwright and blacksmith, Toko, appealed for his employee, William Geognan, a blacksmith. Mr. H, L. Spratt, instructed by Mr. T. C, Fookes, Stratford, appeared for the appellant. Evidence was given by Mr. Griffiths that he was the only wheelwright and blacksmith in the Toko district. Blacksmiths were hard to obtain, and he was willing to let the reservist go as soon as he could replace him. The appeal was dismissed, and leave was granted until February 5. A SEAMAN'S APPEAL. 1 John William Lang, seaman, appealed <>n the ground of public interest. Hp deposed th(it Ins was second mate on a barque, and had 'been at sea for ilve yiars. Decision was reserved sine die so long as appellant remains in his present occupation. AN INGLEWOOD CASE.

Jesse Hodges, dairy farmer, Ngatoro, near InglewooS "TMr. H. L. Spratt) appealed oh the ground of public interest and undue "hardship. Evidence was given by the appellant that he was single and was in partnership with a brother in a 293-acre leasejjqli} farm (educational lease), and that he was also assisting his father with one of his farms. Ho gave detailed particulars of tho working of the farms, and said lie did not think his father could manage very well without witness's assistance. Corroborative evidence was given at length by Mr. Hodges, sen., wlio mentioned that one son was serving in France, two had returned, and another was a'bout to go into camp The appeal was dismissed, leave being granted until April 1- ■ ONLY MAN ON FARxM. ' Herbert Brisco, farmer, Elthain (Mr. O'llea), appealed on the ground of public interest and undue hardship. Ho had no objection to serving, but would like leave until the end of the dairy season. y Leave was granted until 'April 30. A HARD t!ASE. Joseph Turner, farmer. Kaponga (Mr. Powell), appealed for leave for his son George, who is in camp. The appellant stated that his other son Walter was in France, and he could not manage the farm without the assistanco of George, who was now on final leave. The Board decjdeil to recommend leave until the end of May. ADJOURNED APPEALS. The appeal of Frederick Earl Cleland, sheep farmer, Hurimoiuia, for whom Mr. Stafford appeared, which wag before the > Board in October last, was further reviewed. . . Decision was reserved sine die! i The appeal of Peter Goldup, farmer, i Toko, whose case, was previously before the Board, was again reviewed. There was 110 change in appellant's ■ position. > Decision was reserved »)"" di*

ll;c appeal oi John Saxon Barley man (Me! Weir); Kaponga, set down for hearing, was adjourned until Wednesday. The appeal of William Leslie Pinny, fanner, Hawera (Mr. Welsh), was adjourned until the April sitting. Thomas C. C. Simpson, farmer, Whenuakura, an adjourned case, stated that he was also in the same position. The man he employed was going into eamp shortly. The case was adjourned until the April-sitting to enable him to replace the man who was go in a: t,o camp. .The appeal oi John Oorbett, dairv farmer, Ratapiko, an adjourned case, was again reviewed.

The Board reserved its decision. George Briston, motor mechanic, Kaponga, applied for leave because 0 f the state of his wife's health.

LeaTe was granted until February 5. Hugh Henry Bennett, farmer, kohuratahi, whose had been previously Considered, applied for a re-hearing. Appellant stated that his position vaa the same as when he last appeared before the Board, except that the man whom he thought lie could get found that he would be unable to supervise appelhnt's farm. Decision'was reserved

The appeal of Sherard Spooner, farmer, Wlmngamomona, an adjourned oppeal, was reviewed. Appellant, who had been boarded 01, said he was prepared to go into camp in February, Leave was granted until February 12.

The adjourned appeal of Donald Bain, store manager, Toko, was called on. Appellant said he had disposed of his business and desired leave until Feb; u ray to enable him to completely wind up his affairs.

Leave was granted until 5. Leopold Shepheid. coachsmita, Kaponga, whose case was , previously before the Board, said that lie had made arrangements with .mother man to take his place. In reply to the chairman, appellant iaid lie was willing to go into camp in February. ; Leave was granted until February 5.

The appeal of Ernest ilander, 'dairy farmer, Cardiff, an adjourned.,case, was reviewed. Appellant said his position had not changed.

Decision was reserved sine die so long as appellant reports to the group commander monthly that he is still in the same position. Arthur Peter Willis, a voluntary recruit, was given leave until May' 1 to enable him to assist a brother tlirough the busy season.

The appeal of F. Bryant, Hawera, was allowed on the ground that the appellant is the onl.v' remaining son. His brother"had been' killed in action. Mr. O'Dea appeared for the appellant. I'lie appeal of George Willis, Stratford, \va 3 formally dismissed, appellant having gone to camp.