MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1917, Page 7

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

HAWERA SITTING. EXEMPTION APPEALS. The First Wellington Military Service Board resumed its sittings in Hawera on Tuesday. RESERVED DECISIONS. The Board gave its reserved decisions in the following appeals heard on Monday:—John Corbett, Ratapiko, adjourned until the April sitting; Hugh Henry Bennett, Kohuratahi, Board adheres to its previous decision, and grants leavo until February sth. HOME SERVICE. The following appeals were withdrawn and formally dismissed, appellants having been medically boarded C 2:— Richard Edward Wilson, cabinetmaker, Hawera; Alan Lusk, farm hand, Oaomii; Ivor Aitehison Scott, farmer, Hawera; Joseph Samuel Watt, dairy farmer, Oaonui. The following appeals were withdrawn:—Arthur Bosley. dairy farmer, Eltham; W. L. S. Tait, chemist's assistant, Hawera. Subsequently the Board decided to adjourn Bosley's case until the next sitting as there appeared to he some doubt as to whether appellant really intended to withdraw his appeal., • APPLICATION FOR LEAVE,

J. Crocker, farmer, Hawera, applied for leave for his son, Frederick Alexander Crocker, now in camp, Mr. R. D. Welsh appeared in support of the application.

Evidence was given by Mr. Crocker that he had five sons, two of whom were at the front, another was a returned .soldier, and yet another (Frederick) was in camp, leaving one son on the farm. The returned son was unable to do any heavy work on the farm, which was worked in three different lots. Tho farms were really leased i.o the boys; be wanted Frederick home to assist with the heavy work, such as cropping, which owing to the labor difficulty, was all behind this year. Owing to his advanced age, witness was not able to do sny woTk on the farms. Tho Board was of the opinion that tho farms could be run very well without the assistance of the soldier son, and it therefore had no recommendation -to make. The chairman pointed out that Mr. Crocker would have the services of Frederick for awhile at Christmas time. UNDUE HARDSHIP. Wajter Vincent Parker, farmer, married, appealed on tho ground of public interest and undue hardship. Appellant stated that he had a leasehold farm of 73 acres on which he was milking 39 cows by machine. He was «urc that the farm could not be carried on in his absence. It would not stand a manager or sharemilkers. He had a brother on service with the Sixth Ecinfbrcements, one employed in a munition factory, where he had been for many yesrs, and another a sergeant in the Royal Horse Artillery in which he had served for the past five years. Appellant was quite willing to go away if he could arrange his farm affairs. He was the only man on the place. Decision was reserved sine die. Sydney Morris Coombs, farmer, Oao> nui, for whom Mr. Taylor appeared, appealed on the grounds ■of undue hsid6.hip. This was an adjourned case from the October sitting. Appellant deposed that lie was farming about 000 acres without assistance. Leave was granted sine die. Frederick Henry, farmer, Hawera, for whom, Mr. Powell appeared, appealed on the ground of undue hardship. Appellant deposed that he was working a 58-acre fara and considered that it would be an undue hardship if he bad to leave it. He did not think any of the neighbors would be able to take over the supervision of the property. Adjourned until tho April Bitting. SHEEP-FARMER'S CASE. I

Joseph John Power, farmer, Nukumaru, appealed on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship! Mr. (Powell, instructed by Mr. O'Dea appeared for the appellant. The appellant stated that he worked a leasehold sheep farm of 480 acres, which belonged to his father. There were »bont 1000 mixed sheep and also 400 lambs and SO or flO head of cattle. The shearing was all finished with the exception of the 400 lambs. ' Of the three brothers, apart from witness, two were in France, Mid the other had just left with a recent reinforcement. Appellant was thd sole remaining son at home. His parents wanted to keep the' farm for the boys when they returned. Decision was reserved sine die. APPELLANT'S BAD LUCK. ' William Proctor Brash, farmer, Waitoriki, appealed on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship. Mr. Pattison appeared for the appellant. Appellant stated that he occupied a leasehold farm of flfl 1 /, acres. He had recently been dairying on the pkee, but owing to the homestead being burned he had to sell the herd and put sheep on the property. He was at present contracting in farm work, such as ploughing, discing, etc., and had enough work in view to keep him going until March next. He was 43 yeart of age and single. Adjourned until the March sitting. AN EMPLOYER'S APPEAL. Mrs Egaar, Ngatere, for whom Mr. F, C. Spratt appeared, appealed for her eon William Wallace, on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship. • Evidence was given by the' appellant that the working of the farm was solely dependent upon William.. The farm consisted of 90 acres, on, which there was milked 20 cows. One son had been at the front for over two years; the other four Were in the second division, and the youngest, who was not yet of military age, was in the Government service. Witness put in a doctor's certificate to show that her husband was in delicate health. The appeal was dismissed, leave be« ing granted until May 1. OWNER OF FIVE FARMS. James Barkla, farmer, Hawera, appealed for his son Stanley. Appellant said lie had five farms, a* follows: (1) The homestead farm, which (onsisted of 7(i acres, freehold, on the Ararata road. . His son Stanley, was on this farm. It was stocked with 51 cows (machines), 40 calves, and 15 pigs. Witness also lived on this fnrm. Stanley attended to all the milking without assistance. >. itness, who w|is 54 years of nge, lived on this farm, and attended to the general farm work. (2) Turnturn road. This farm consisted of 70 acre, freehold end adjoined the homestead pl'.co. Revrnty-flve cows .were milked by His son Leonard, 18 years of age, looked after the milk-

ing, with the assistance, oi.'a young.fellow 17- years of age." There were 20 pigs and 41 calves on the farm. Thia place consisted of 51% acres freehold, across the road a few chains from the other farm. There were 30 mixed cattle 14C sheep and lambs on the place. There was no one living on the farm. Witness looked after it. (4) Ararata road. This was a freehold farm of 50 acres, adjoining the Turutnni road farm. The stock on it consisted of 63 heifers, 3 bnjls, 04 sheep and lambs. (5) Ararata road; leasehold farm of 236 acres, which contained 27 cows, 13 calves, G pigs, and 370 sheep and lambs. This farm wa* managed by his son Thomas, a C2 man. Thomas was really very little on the place as he assisted in the dairy factory. This farm was six miles from the other farms. He had six sons—Leonard, Thomas, Stanley, Leslie (who assisted Thomas), James (who is in France), and the youngest George, a schoolboy. Leslie was a C2 man, he believed.

The chairman: Have you tried to get anybody to replace Stanley?—No; I have tried to get someone for the farms on which there is no one.

Witness suggested that the case be adjourned until April, when Leslie, who was recovering from an illness, would then be in a fit condition to take Stanley's place. Captain Walker :T was going to make a suggestion to this effect. .Mr. McLaren: How many of your sons have voluteered —The one that is at the front. You carinot cast a slur upon me. / Mr, McLaren: I have no wish to do so. He added that the winning of the war,.and the protecting of the Empjre was the first consideration, and if the Empire were allowed to go under their farms would be of no use to them. The witness: I quite recognise that. Tho chairman said the Board were of the opinion that Stanley should go into camp as soon as possible; the appeal would be dismissed and leave granted until.February 6. WORKING TWO FARMS. Joseph Morris Fraser, farmer, Ratapiko, for whom Mr. Spratt appeared, said he was working two farms belonging to his father, one of COO acres and another of 1257 acres. On the 600-acre farm there were 1000 big sheep, 500 lambs, and 120 head of cattle; on the larger farm there were 1500 big. sheep, 500 lambs, and fiO head of cattle. He had a brother killed at the battle of Messinefi; another brother had left with the 31st Reinforcements. • Up till recently witness and his father managed the two farms; they had just secured the,servieeis of a boy 14 years of age. The case was adjourned sine die.

OTHER APPEALS. David Bullman, farmer, Otakeho, for whom Mr. Powell appeared (instructed by Mr. O'Dea) appealed on the grounds of public interest. Appellant said he was a dairy farmer, was married, and had two children. The farm consisted of 40 (leasehold), and it was running 25 cows. He had not labor on the farm. Decision reserved sine die. The adjourned appeal of John Leo, farmer, YVavcrley, was reviewed. Appellant stated that his position, had not changed materially. Mr. 'Powell, instructed by Mr. O'Dea, appeared for appellant. Decision was reserved. Henry George, Plews, farmer, Midhirst, who appealed on the ground of public interest, said he occupied a leasehold farm of US acres, on which he was milking 37 cows by machine. He also had religious objections, but he did not belong to any party. The chairman: I am afraid your religious objection must fall to the ground. Tho appeal was adjourned until the nej-'t sitting, to see if the appellant could arrange with a relative to take over the supervision of the farm. Tho following appeals were dismissed, there being no appearance of the appellants: Samuel Edward Peacock, milker, Oaonui (Mr. Marshall); Michael Eourke. dairy farmer, Awatuna; Keith AicCausland, ploughman, To Wera; Joseph F.rnest Young, sheep farmer, Puniwhakau; Francis Stephen Boardman, farmer, Oaonui. Albert Hicktnn O'Leary, clothier, Stratford, for whom Mr. F. C. Spratt appeared, explained that lie was managing a business belonging to his mother. He also owned a farm of MO acres on the Beaeonsfiold road, on which he was running 250 ewes and 210 lambs. He really desired leave until the end. of February to enable him to see the stocktaking through. A manager had been appointed for the clothing business. Leave was granted until March 12, the ..date of the CI draft going into camp. •. . .: .Tames Porter, "farmer, Wliangamomomona, appealed on the ground of public interest and undue, hardship. Appellant explained that ho was a sheep farmer in partnership with another farmer, who was at the front. The farm consisted of 058 acres, and it was carrying 470 sheep, with a few cattle. Two brothers were on active service, while one had been killed. Decision was reserved sino die. ■ Harold Vivian Field, farm hand, Oaonui, appealed on the ground of public interest and undue hardship. Hegave evidence that he held a West Coast Settlempnt Reserve lease, and was milking 50 cows by hand. Ho was the only man on the place. A brother went away with the 28th Reinforcements. Leave was granted sino die. —Star.