MILITARY APPEAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1918, Page 6

MILITARY APPEAL BOARD.

SITTING AT NEW PLYMOUTH. A sitting of the No. 1 Wellington Military Service Board (Messrs D. G. A. Cooper, S.M , ohairmau, W. Perry, and D. M'Laren) waß held at New Plymouth yesterday. Major Cox represented the Defence Department. NON-COMBATANT SERVICE. Mr. A. H. Johnstone appeared on behalf of William Gilliver, dairy farmer, Urcnui, who appealed on the grounds of religious objection. Mr. Johnstone stated that appellant, who was now in camp, had no wish to evade service, but, as he was a Quatysr, he was desirous of performing non-combatant service. He had applied to the military authorities, but his request had not heen acceded to, and he was anxious that the board should make the necessary recommendation. Certificates showing membership were put in, and the chairman said the board would make the recommendationAN OKATO APPEAL. In the appeal of Bernard Roberts, farmer, Okato (Mr- A. H. Johnstone), adjourned from last sitting for further information, appellant stated that his 'brother Dick was going into camp that day, and appellant would have to assist in the management of his farm in the Ksng Country. Appellant Tiad tried to sell his Okato property ,but could not. It would be impossible for Mr. W. Corbett, his previous manager, to again supervise his farm. To Major Cox: His brother had a man on his property who had since been called up. His brother was satisfied to leave the management of the King Coun. try farm to appellant, although he knew appellant was likely to go to camp. His brother was fanning 600 acres freehold and 400 acres leasehold.

Mr- M'Laren: Don't you think it curious that your brother should leave his property in your dharge when you were likely to go into camp? Appellant: The only thing he could do. We have three farms to look after. To the chairman: Appellant had repaired a lot of fencing since last before the board and !had also been a week in Taumarunui. It would be absolutely untrue to say that he had been running about the country wasting his time. The Chairman: Even if gentlemen of repute told us so. Appellant: Yes. In reply to further questioning, witness stated he had not tried to get anyone to take his place. If Mr- Corbett said he would manage the farm It would 'be different. To Mr. Johnstone: From March 21 until a fortnight ogo he had remained on his farm. To Mr- M'Laren: He had lost fifty lead of cattle last year, and six this year at Okato. I To Major Cox: You would not get a man to run the property under £4 per week. It would not pay to put a man on the farmThe Chairman: Although you have lost so many cattle! To Mr. Perry: His brother carried 500 lambs, 500 breeding ewes, and 400 dry sheep. He did not think it would pay his brother to put on a man to look after them. Mr. Perry: It is my opinion it would pay him to give a man £2OO a year in preference to leaving the place in your charge. Appellant said that it would be difficult to get a good man. Major Cox stated he knew a man who would be willing to look after the place. Appellant: If a man has to look for a jot> these times he can't bo much good. Major Cox: This is a good man, a retired farmer, who has offered to look after such a place. He is a thorou"My practical man with 17 years' experience, who had made sufficient money to retire on and could look after both the King Country and Okato farms. Appellant: Stock gets hundreds of miles in a week. The appeal was dismissed, leave being granted until July 3DISCHARGE RECOMMENDED. Sapper James Tuck, farmer, Ingleowod, a member of the New Zealand Engineering and Tunnelling Company, applied for his discharge. He stated that he left New Zealand for the front in December,, 1915, and returned to New Zealand in January, 1918. He was farming 100 acres and milking 24 cows. When he enlisted he had eight children, the eldest being 14- Since another child had been horn. On his return Ms home was rather broken up, and he wished his discharge to enable him to look after his children. The board decided to recommend the discharge. STATION MAiNAGER'S APPEAL. Ernest Rice Batley (Mr. D. Hutchen), station manager, Awakmo, appealed on his own account and for whom an appeal had been lodged by the trustees of the late R. T. Batley. Appellant deposed that he was managing three properties aggregating 9000 acres. Tongaporutu property was 14 miles from Piripiri, and Paparata was eight and a-lialf miles further on. There was a sub-manager on the Tongaporutu, who had been called up. The properties were rough, original bush, and they would now go back if neglected. Appellant's father died in July last- He had two surviving brothers, one of whom had been wounded at the front, whilst the other managed a property of several thousand acres at Moawhanga. The trustees had endeavored to obtain a manager at £3OO a year, and were now considering the applications. Appellant had a young family of seven children, the eldest being eight and a-foalf years, and his wife was a Native. Originally appellant was classed C2, but was now classed CI. To Mr. Perry: He had no one on the property that could be left in charge. He was very much understaffed. Mr. Hutchen stated that the trustees only asked for throe months' leave, but the reservist applied for total exemption. The appeal was adjourned till the June sittings.

AN ENGLEWOOD APPEAL, Walter Herbert Burrows, dairy farmer, Ngartoro (Mr. F. E. Wilson), whose appeal had been adjourned last sitting to enable Mm to communicate with a brother, who might carry on the farm, stated that his brother was in Class B, and as he was likely to be called up shortly, was unable to take o a a permanent job at present. The applie&ttion was adjourned -sine die. * A TOKO CASE. In the appeal of Jolui Bartholomew; fanner, Toko, adjourned'' km a ptayiou* littisft U* fct&tr «m,

Ed that there was no alteration in the circumstances. He could not afford to pay the two men that would be required to replace his son- Witness worked 12 Injurs a day, and his son, who sheared for the neighbors, was the only shearer left in the district. lie had three 6ons married and away, one being a solicitor and two were managing farms. The appeal was adjourned sine die. A URENUI APPEAL. William Patrick Corcoran, fanney, Waitoitoi (Mr. Bennett), deposed that lie was single and aged 30. He had voluntarily enlisted, but was now classed CI. He farmed 550 acres freehold and 200 leasehold »for the past six years. The appeal was dismissed, leave beliand by a share-milker with a family of 10, 120 head mixed stock, and 000 sheep. Appellant did the general farming, and cropped about 00 acres. Appellant had a farm of 157 acres leasehold at Normanby, on which share-milkers milked 60 cows by hand. Appellant's only brother was wounded in France. He Iliad tliree single sisters, one being with his mother at a place of 000 acres in the South Island. Appellant had endeavored to sell his Waitoitoi property, and was /willing to go into camp if the board directed it. To Major Cox: He would sooner sell the farm than put a manager on it. .The case, was adjourned until next sitting for further information. A MIRO APPEAL.

Frank Duckett, farmer, Miro (Mr. •Johnstone), whose case was re-lieard, deposed that he fanned 60 acres and did the whole of the work on the farm. On the leasehold he carried 10 yearlings and 15 two-year-olds- In 191G appellant enlisted and made efforts to sell farm, which was still in the agent's hands at the same price. A neighbor would look after the farm if 'his son, aged just on 20, was not passed for service.

Mr. Johnstone suggested that it was a case for the Efficiency Trustees to take the matter up, when he thought they would be able to get someone to look after appellant's interestsThe farm carried 80 cows, milked by ing granted until the June draft. The Efficiency' Trustees will also be asked to assist appellant. A CHEESEMAKER'S APPEAL. Anthony William Switalla, clieeseinaker, Bell Block (Mr. A. H. Johnstone), deposed that lie was head cheesemaker at Bell Block, having had twelve years' experience. During last season he made 350 tons of cheese, and was in charge of six vats, with the assistance of seven others who had had no experience and required constant supervision. His average grade last year was 80.56. Appellant had volunteered twice and been rejected, but was now classed CI. Sometimes his unfitness affected his ability to work. To Mr. M'Laren: When lie volunteered in May, 1917, the position was practically the same at the factory, but witness signed on to go away with the July draft. He was aged 27 and single. Mr- Johnstone stated that neither the reservist nor the factory directors wished to place any obstacle in the way of the reservist going into camp, but they felt that as he was not likely to stand training and was engaged in an essential industry it would be better to give him leave. Mr. M'Laren thought that too much stress was laid on CI men not being able to stand training, in view of the fact that 00 per cent, of the men had been drafted into the main camp.

Decision was reserved sine die. A RAHOTU APPEAL.' Mrs. H. N- Eatock (Mr. A. H. Johnstone) appealed on behalf of her son, Kahui Eatock, farmer, Kahui road, Rahotu. She deposed that she was a widow, and farmed 397 acres on the Kahui road, having lived there 25 years. Half the bush was felled. Appellant milked 2? cows by hand, the farm being four miles from the nearest factory, the farm being close to the reserve. Appellant's son was aged 27, and did the general farm frork, besides assisting in the milking. Appellant had vounteered twice, and had been turned down, being now classed CI. There were two daughters, one married and farming 10 miles away, and the other being at home. Witness was appealing on the advice of the Public Trustee, who was in charge of the estate. Witness would have liked her son to go to the front, as she realised tfliat the country required every man.

Decision was reserved sine die. A MIRO CASE. > Richard Michael Power, fanner, Miro, and farm manager, Rugby road, Tariki, whose appeal was re-heard, deposed that he was milking 40 cows by hand at his father's farm of 150 acres. His sister assisted with the milking. Up till six months ago appellant had a leasehold farm, which he had to give up in order to assist his father, who was ill. A married brother at Palmerston North was drawn in the present ballot. His only other brother was classed C2, and, was unable to work, being an invalid. Appellant was classed 01. Decision was reserved sine die. MORE INFORMATION REQUIRED. In the appeal of Arthur Ernest Lethbridge, farmer, Sentry Hill' (Mr. A. H. Johnstone), appellant's Sather, Frederick Lethbridge, deposed that he was farming 113 acres, on which he milked 33 cows. Witness was aged 66 and a complete cripple. He had a family of 10, six of whom were boys. One boy (jnarried) was a farm manager, and another was a shearer and milker. A third son (married) was wounded in France. Another son (Frank) was a buttermaker at Waitotoroa. There was also a boy of M. Of his daughters, two were home, one aged 10. Adjourned till next sitting for further information.

AN ACCOUNTANT'S APPEAL. Thomas-John O'Kelly, accountant, New Plymouth (Mr. A. H. Johnstone), applied for an extension of time until August, owing to' the state of his wife's health. Adjourned until nest sittings. A WAREA APPEAL. Further'hearing was taken in the appeal of Horace Magon, dairy fanner, of Warea A. A. Bennett), who was before the Board on March 21. In reply to questions he stated that there was no one he could rely on Jo help his wife on the farm if'he went into camp. Mr, "Bennett pointed out that appel- : laart was willing to go into camp when tie board thought he should after reading the report of the Efficiency Board. The appeal was dismissed, leave being urtil the JuM draft*

SOLICITORS' APPEALS. Mr. H. Pi. Billing appeared for Messrs Weston and Weston, who appealed on behalf of William Henry Armstrong, manager of their Inglewood branch. Appellant also personally appealed ■ for leave for a month for domestic reasons. Mr. Billing deposed that the firm had offices at New Plymouth and Inglewood. C. 11. Weston, the other member of the firm, enlisted in October or November, 1914 and was attached to the 6tli Reinforcements. He is at present a lieut.colonel, and was severely wounded in October last, being now out of hospital. He expected to return to New Zealand, leaving in .Tune. When he enlisted there was a staff of six at New Plymouth and two at Inglewood. From the New Plymouth office six had enlisted, and one had joined another firm to enable Mr. Standish to go to the front. Mr. Grant, who was in charge at Inglewood, had enlisted, and Mr. Armstrong was sent to take charge there after Mr. Fitzherbert left. Witness had endeavored to get someone to replace Mr. Armstrong, without success, and would like leave until Mr. Weston's return, when they could probably carry on. The appeal was dismissed, leave being granted until .Tune 5. Charles Rupert Stead, solicitor, Waitara (Mr. P. E. Wilson), whose case had been adjourned from last "meeting to enable him to complete some Native land transactions, applied for further time. Appellant was the only resident solicitor in Waitara, and if he could obtain a qualified man to take charge Mr. P. E. Wilson had agreed to supervise. If ordered into camp at once he would have to close his doors, which would be awkward for his clients.

The appeal was dismissed, leave being granted until July 3; A BUTCHER'S APPEAL. Walter Buchanan, butcher, Waitara, (Mr. A. A. Bennett), appealed on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship. He deposed that he was aged 26, married, with one child. He came out in the Bth ballot and was classed C2. He then had a partner, his brother-in-law, who had joined the 27th Reinforcements. They expended £2OO in improving the premises, and later appellant was classed CI. Their business covered a large,area of country. There was another butchery business in town which did half the business they did. He had tried to sell the business, without success. If compelled to close down they would lose all they had put into the business. To Major Cox: If ha could get a suitable manager he would put one in. The appeal was adjourned until next sitting to give appellant a chance to obtain a manager. A DUTIFUL SON. Thomas Murphy, farmer, Egmont Village (Mr.'Johnstone), stated that he owned 0 or 7 acres, on which he grazed cattle, as he did some dealing. He also went out working. Appellant lived with' his father, aged 78, who was prnctically blind and had been so for the last 28 years. Appellant's mother died at his birth, and appellant had looked after his father for the past 14 years, his father being dependent on him. He had a sister in Auckland. To Major Cox: His sister had no permanent home and could not assist his father. It would kill his father to go into a home. It was only at Jiis father's wish that he appealed. The chairman sympathised with appellant, but considered that in the dire need for men appellant should endeavor to overcome his feelings. His father could probably get into a private home. The appeal was adjourned till next sitting.

LEAVE GRANTED, William Rothery, farmer, Rahotu, appealed for time until the end of July, to enable him to fence a property that he owned near the Forest Reserve. Leave was granted till July 16. A RETURNED TROOPER'S LEAVE. Trooper John Alex;. McEldowney, a returned soldier, New Plymouth, applied for an extension of leave. There was no appearance of appellant. It was stated that he had returned in December, on three weeks' leave, and this had been extended to three months, which was up on March 23. Mr. Johnstone explained that appellant, with a partner was farming 2000 acres. Both had volunteered and gone to the front, leaving the farm in charge of a neighbor, who was now unable to look vter it. Appellant had come back to fix up liis business, and was making strenuous efforts to dispose of it, and if his leave were extended until after J the Land Board meeting the negotiations would be completed. Leave was recommended until May 31.

A STOREKEEPER'S APPEAL. Cecil Johnson, storekeeper, New Plymouth, whose case had been previously adjourned, stated that he could go to camp as seon as his brother came back from Cambridge, whither ho had been sent for health purposes oa his return from the front. The appeal was dismissed, leave being granted till May 21. AN INVALID MOTHER. Arthur Norman Morey, aged 3G, motor owner and driver, New Plymouth (Mr. F. K Wilson), appealed on the grounds of undue hardship.. Appellant's mothep, aged 67 f was an invalid and depended on him for assistance and personal attention. To Major Cox: He had advertised for an attendant to wait on his mother, but had received no replies. \ Decision was reserved sine die. WRONG CLASSIFICATION. The appeal of Lewis Edward Autridge, driver, New Plymouth, was allowed, appellant being in Class B of the Second Division. APPEALS ALLOWED. The following appeals were allowed: James Coffey, laborer, Rahotu, under age and a Maori; Matthew Richard Hill, contractor, Punilio, under age; Edward Brown, laborer, Waitara, three-quarter Maori. Employers' appeals in the following cases were withdrawn and the appeals .formally dismissed: Kenneth Chas. Jury, traveller, New Plymouth; Leslie Cave chemist, New Plymouth; N. R. McClelland, letterpress machinist, New Plymouth. P. Schrider, farmer, Inglewood, was granted leave until June 18 owing to the state of his wife's health. WITHDRAWN AND DISMISSED. The following appeals were withdrawn and dismissed, appellants having been classed C2: Frederick Charles Jull, plumber, New Plymouth; Sidnejr Joseph 1

Sutton, farmer, Waitara; A. O. Woollet, fruiterer, New Plymouth. The appeal of Harry Langdon Sole insurance clerk, New Plymouth, and Hu! Bert Langman Oliver, farmer, Upper Mangorei, were dismissed, appellants being in camp. The appeal of William Isaac Topless, farmer, Urenui, was withdrawn and formally dismissed. In the appeal of Frederick Herbert Huia Gash, farm laborer, New Plymouth, his mother appeared and stated that her son was 19 last January, but as circumstances had now altered she would withdraw the appeal. The case was accordingly dismissed; John Edward Coomer, engineer, New Plymouth (Mr. A. A. Bennett), had been granted leave by the Canterbury Board until July l f on the appeal of his employers, but now asked leave to withdraw his appetil, with the understanding Wfat if necessary it would be brought forward again if the state of his wife's health would not at that time permit of her removal to Wellington, where she was to reside during his absence. ° The board agreed to this course.