MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1917, Page 7

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

, EXEMPTION APPEALS. The First Wellington Military Service Board resumed its. sittings in Hawera on Wednesday. RESERVED DECISION. The Board dismissed the ajppe&l of John Leo, Waverley, heard: the previous day, and granted leave until February C. | HOME SERVICE. The following appeals were formally dismissed, appellants having been medically boarded C2: Cornelius Kugener, Bhare-milker, Alton; John Kennedy, contractor* Riverlea; Joseph Kelly, farmer, Te Roti. A PECULIAR POSITION. The adjourned appeal of J, S. Barleyman, farmer, Kaponga, was reviewed. Mr. Weir appeared for the appellant. The appellant said that lie had had no help on the farm, with the exception from that of a boy 14 years of age. He had got all his crops in. Tlie chairman referred to a report which the' Board had received, and which was to the effect that the farm was being carried on by hired labor. Mr, Weir: Have you hired any labor this season?— No. With the exception of the boy I have not paid sixpence to anyone for labor. I can bring evidence to prove that I have not employed any other labor. Mr. Weir said there must be some mistake in regard to this matter. Cross-examined by the military representative, the appellant adhered tp his statement that he had ' not hired' any labor and was doing hia own work on the farm. The Board decided to adjourn the appeal until tjie January sitting to enable further enquiries to be made. A SOLDIER'S APPLICATION. Private H. E. Witham, of the 33rd, Reinforcements, applied for leave to enable him to do some stumping and to put in erops on his farm on the Hastings rond. Mr. Weir appeared for the appellant. Tlie Board reserved its decision, and subsequently decided to recommend one month's leave. LEAVE UNTIL END OF SEASON. Samuel Reynolds, dairy farmer, Stratford, appealed on the ground of public interest and undue hardship. Mr. 11. 1.. Spratt, instructed by Mr. T. C. Fookcs, Stratford, appeared for the appellant. Evidence was given by the appellant that he occupied a leasehold farm of 100 acres on the Skinner road, and was milking 33 sows. If he could not obtain total exemption, he would ask for leave until the end of the season. The appeal was dismissed, leave being granted until May 1. SINE DIE EXEMPTIONS Arthur Campbell Rieketts, farmer, Kaiipokonui, for whom Mr. Bennett appeared, appealed cn the ground of public interest and undue hardship. ■ Appellant said that he was working a leasehold farm of 100 acres on the Gane road, and , was milking 42 cows by machine. He had assistance only from his wife. He had vet to get his hay in, which would be done by the assistance of neighbors. His place was not an easy one to work; it was an unimproved farm, and there were only 10 or 12 acres clear. He had two brothers at the front, one having gained the D.C M.another was in crimp, and yet another had been rejected. He had not enlisted because he had been rejected for Territorial training in 1911. Decision was reserved sine die, William James Neilson, farmer, Alton, for whom Mr. F. C. Spratt appeared, appealed on the ground of public interest and undue hardship. In his evidence the appellant stated that he held a leasehold farm of lOC acres, which he had taken up six years ago. He was milking 30 cows by hand with the assistance of a sister. Two brothers, who were on active service, took i;p the farm with witness. Decision was reserved sine die. Clifford L. J. Murray, farmer. Beacons- | Held, road. Midhirst-, wlio appealed on tho ground of piibl'e interest and undue hardship, deposed that he occupied a freehold farm of 100 acres, on which he , was milking 33 cows by machine, The farm belonged to appellant and his brother Harold, who was on active service. The only labor he had was from a ■boy 18 years of age, who assisted with milking night and morning. (Decision was reserved sine die. Frank Prior Elliott, farmer, Inglewood, appealed on the ground of undue hard- , ship and public interest. Mr Powell (instructed by Mr. O'Dea) appealed for the appellant. The appellant gave oviri<>-ce that be was in partnership with his brother Gregory in a M4-acre freehold farm, near Inglewood. Gregory was in France. Ills other brother John was also at the front. He had no personal objection to serving. An endeavor had been made to sell the farm, but so far without success. Decision waa reserved sine die. UNDER AGE. The appeal of Harold Hannah, farmer, Tokaora, waa allowed, the appellant producing a birth certificate, which showed him to be under military age. SHARE-MILKERS' APPEALS. J.' Small, farmer, Ohangai, appealed for Thomas Hogan, farm assistant. Mr. Powell (instructed toy Mr. O'Dea) appeared for the appellant, Evidence WO9 given by Thomas Hogan that he was milking 60 cows by hand for Mr. Small. He received assistance from Mr. Small's three daughters. ' Witness also did the ploughing and cropping. Corroborative evidence was given by Mr. Small, who stated he was always in delicate health, and therefore unable to do any heavy work. The appeal was dismissed, leave being granted until April 9. Samuel Moreland, sharemilker, Whenuakura, for whom Mr. Powell (instructed liv Mr. O'Dea) appeared, appealed for his son. Andrew Moreland, milker. Tlie appellant deposed that he held a sharemilking contract for Mr. Powdrell. His son Andrew' was with him. Witness had two sons at the front. Over 100 cows were being milked. There was other stock on the farm. A good deal of ploughing and cropping, etc.. had to be done. The appeal was dismissed, leave being granted until Mav 7. • Thomas Keith Cameron, farmer, River: lea, who appealed on the ground of public interest and undue hardship, denosed that he and his mother were milkin? on a «hnremi|kin!» contract for Mr. Fitzgerald; they had the assistance of his two younger brothers, one of whom Was a cripple. His mother would be unable to carry on if lie were In "o nwav. he ua? the enb- in-in O" I'se nlnce. He 1i" 1 o-'o! 1 '""- l>rnther 'n France. Tl-r, Are you asking for total exemption T, . ,

• Appellant: I suppose I cannot get it. (Laughter-). ... ell, are you asking for exemption until the end of the season ?—Yes. Decision, was reserved. Subsequently it was decided to adjourn the ease until the April sitting. LOOKING AFTER TWO FARMS. Frank Potroz, .farm assistant, Kaimata, for whom Mr. Powell (instructed by Mr. O'Dea) appeared, applied for exemption until April to enable him to complete some necessary work. Appellant deposed that lie was assisting his father in looking after two farms —II) 234 acres, belonging to his father, and (2) 102 acres, belonging to his two brothers who are in France. There was a distance of seven miles between the two farms. The appeal was dismissed, leave being granted until April 2. ' A SOLICITOR'S APPEAL. When the appeal of John Cruickshank Morrison, solicitor, Kltham, was called on there was no appearance of the appellant. The grounds of the appeal were public interest and undue hardship. Captain Walker said he had received a letter from the appellant applying for an adjournment until January, and he had replied stating that any application for nn adjournment would have to' be inadt? in ttpen before the Board. The chairman: He gives no reason for the adjournment? Captain Walker: In effect he says there is a possibility of his withdrawing his appeal. As there was no appearance, the appeal was struck out. STOREKEEPER'S APPEAL. The adjourned employer's appeal of Francis Rooney, storekeeper, Whangamomona, for his son Thomas was reviewed. Mr. Powell (instructed by Mr. O'Dea) appeared for the appellant. The appellant said he hail been unable to get anyone to take his son's place for the delivery work. It was difficult to get a man, but he would not say it was impossible. It might 'be easier to find a man in January. The appeal was dismissed, leave being granted until February 5. RELIGIOUS OBJECTIONS. Arthur Harold Warner, farmer, Patea, who appealed on the ground of public interest and undue said that he was working on iiis father's farm of i) 4 acres, There was no other male assistant on the farm. Forty cows were milked by appellant, who had the assistance of a brother 15 years of age. His father was tillable to milk because of his health. Appellant added that he had religious objections to fighting, and belonged to the Plymouth Brethren. The chairman: This Board has held often enough that the Plymouth Brethren as a body did not object to fighting, and therefore your objection on that ground is not sustained. The appellant: I am quite prepared to do non-combatant work. . The appeal was dismissed, leave being granted until March 5. A SCHOOL TEACHER'S CASE. Laurie . Alexander McHardie, school teacher, for whom Mr. Powell appeared, appealed for time to enable; him to sit for an examination to complete his "D" certificate. Appellant said lie was hradmaster and sole teacher of the Makahu school; the school had a roll number of 22, with an average attendance of 1!). ' The chairman: Have yon any knowledge with reference to tlie question as to whether there is an adequate supply of teachers or otherwise. Appllant: I think I can safely say that experienced teachers cannot be got. What experience have you had?— Five years' experience, sir, of sole charge schools and assistantship. Mr. Powell mentioned that he had had a good many years' experience as a school teacher, and knew of the difficulty of securing competent persons for the teaching profession. The chairman (to the appellant): Do you say there is a seriom shortage of teachers?— Yes. It was probable that a lady teacher would take his place. Mr. Powell: This is one of the most difficult schools tc handle—that is, the "one-horse" school. Appellant said he taught up to standard 0. The nearest school to the Makaha school was six miles away. In reply to the chairman appellant said the. Education Board had. not appealed for him. Captain Walker pointed out that the appellant was just the right sort of. person to qualify to be a non-commissioned officer. Mr. McLaren said while that might be so the Board had to consider the question of the national policy in respect to .education, and to see that the interests of the children were not neglected. Capain Walker replied that there was no knowledge that the Taranaki Education Board was appealing for this teacher, and in the absence of such an appeal it was to be assumed that his services could be replaced. He did not in any way wish to cast anv reflection iiDOn the capabilities of Mr. McHardie, who was iprobably a first-class teacher. The Board probaMy intended to replace him by a

lady tcaclier. Surely if tlie Tarana'ki Education Board wanted Mr. McHardie they would have appealed for Mm. The chairman: 1 understand they will not appeal for any First Division teacher. Captain Walker' pointed out, further, that if this appeal ware allowed it would' not be fair to 'hundreds of teachers who had gone into camp. The Board decided to adjourn the appeal until the February sitting, and in the meantime it would communicate with the Taranaki Education Board as to its policy, and also ascertain the policy of the Government as to the exemption, or otherwise, of teachers. OTHER CASES. Hie appeal of John Henry Dungey, Ngutuwera, was adjourned until the next sitting, The appeal with" respect to Thomas Kelsen, cheese factory assistant, Normanby, was dismissed, there being no. appearance of the appellant or his employers. The adjourned appeal of Jeremiah Kerlisle, farmer, Ohangai, was reviewed Mr. Powell, instructed by Mr. O'Dea, appeared for the appellant, who asked for further leave until the crrcl of the season. The appeal was dismissed, leave beine granted Until May. :

This concluded "the Hawera sessions Star.