MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1918, Page 7

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

mTIKO AT NJ3W PLYMOUTH. Tiie No. 1 Wellington Military Service Board, consisting of Messrs 1). G- A. Cooper, (chairman), W. Perry, and DMcLaren, commenced a two-days' sitting at the Xew Plymouth Courthouse yesterday. Captain C- Orr-Walker represented the Defence Department.

BOROUGH COUNCIL'S Ihe appeals of the New Plymouth i'orough. Council on behalf of Russell H. hartley (electrical engineer) and William H. Huggett (electrician) were reconsidered.

Mr. J. H. Quilliam, v/lio appeared for the council, said that since the appeals were last before the 'board the one applicant for Mr. Bartley's position liad withdrawn hi 3 application. An applicant for Air. Huggett's position had been appointed, but on expert advice it was now considered that both men were now considered absolutely essential. Mr. Quii.iam said he also desired to withdraw a statement'he had made to the board on the previous occasion, that the council did not intend to appeal for any other of its employees- ilr. E. Black consulting engineer, of Wellington, had advised that it was impossible to replace men engaged in electrical work. I'iederiek Black, consulting engineer, of Wellington, said he was in close touch ivilh men employed in electrical work and those seeking employment frequently consulted him as to what positions were available. His duties took him all over Hie Dominion. He was the consulting engineer for the design and construction "f the New Plymouth tramways, and ho also advised on the question of the development and extension of tiie o-encra'--U'g station and of the transmission to tie town. lie had been consuited bv the council as to the qualifications of applicants for the position of Mr Bart?.v, and found none of them to possess tMe came qualifications as ilr. Eartlev One applicant who was being considered "as well known to witness, but he had experience of low-tension work only. It «as impossible for a low-tension engineer to take up a high-tension systeir siirti as that of Xew Plymouth. ' The nature of the work made it to have a man in charge of it unless he was well acquainted with it. M» n ,i«ht n:a;..>3 mistakes which would prove fatal to himself or others employed. or scri- j °''Y damage the plant, 'in low-tension won; More was much more latitude. He had made inquiries 011 behalf of the Xew Plymouth Borough Council in both Wellington and Christchurch, and everything went to show that the position in" those -"Hives with rcg-vd to men lor employnent in electrical work was y?rv acnte (n neither ejties could men with any qualifications for the work he secured. U! spite of exii.msj.jve inquiries and wide advertising. .Subsequently he had investigated the organisation of the work ut Xew Plymouth, and, in consequence, advised the council to continue its appeals for Bp.rtlcv and Huggett ],* the "l.nfT was reduce,l below' its present strength, it would be impossible to carry on. ami osw <.r two «f the three shifts run would have to be dispensed with That would probably mean that only the evening shift, providing for lijht and such industries as operated at nighl; time, nul l he continued. He had also advised the council to appeal for all its men who might subsequently bo called upon ror service.

Captain "Walker said the mutter really resolved itself into a uuestion as to iu'liit-.- the reservists' places could be rc P'. v t° -1 question as to the "Htnliiluv of the application for Air. I .art ley* position, who subsequently ;vit!iJi-;'w his application, ?\[r. lilack said '" c !n,ln ' la( ' 1!0 ' had experience of highlension work. He could not say what was the reaecn for the withdrawal of She application.

Captain Walker suggested that the jetler of withdrawal appeared to him io of pique, on account of Jiflic,ikies having been put in hW way. Mr. Plack ?.ai-1 one could only draw an, inference to tnc reason. He believed the applicant had been asked to state more explicitly if he had any knowledge or experience of high-tension work, and the letter of withdrawal was the reply received.

Captain Walker asked for the letter to be produced, which was done, and at .Mr Qiiilliam's request the letter and the reply were read to the board.

hi reply to Mr. M'Laren, witness said lie bad pcen nothing to suggest that the council desired to retain Mr. Hartley for personal reasons. He did not think Mr. Bart-ley had been in New Plvmnuth long enough to create sueh a condition.

The board agreed to adhere to its previous decision to adjourn the appeals sine die The chairman said that in the case of Hugzeft, one member dissented from the decision.

In view of the expert evidence of Mr. Bla"k, Mr QiiiUiam said the Through Council had decided to appenl i;i the ca<e of its car-shed foreman (Mr. -1. Wvatt), who hod beer passed !il. for service and ordered into camp in September. He asked that, in order to meet the convenience of Mr. T.laelc. en! aho to save expense, h's evidence should be taken, oi' that he should be allowed to put in a report on Wyatt's position, direct to the board.

fant.rn Walker si:e!ir-,;o(! that as Mr. Black -,va.< present, his evidence shonltl ho Ink«n.

Mi. 1 lack, dnrinfr examination, said Wyatt. wa s more than merely a, en.'r-shcd foreman iis the usual scn=e. Tie did overhead wiriii.tr. armature windin-r. andcar ivpairinsr. On a system sucli as that, in the large centres, this work was foeeialised. He had advised the council to appeal for Wyatt

To Cantain Walker: There was no one in the department, except Wvitt, who cull! supervise the overhead wiring for the tramwp.vs. TV? linesmen for the liahtinir dei-artrnent could not do the tramwav wiring. He was also an on trn»K wo r k He dou'hteil if auvone V seeii.re.-l to renhiee Wvatt S-? armature winder or overhead linesman Mr. MT.aren sureested tlint it would he an assistance to the board if a return were nrenared showincr (he staff om-pV.'-ert. the nature of (li"ir work. find their snec-inl qualifications for their work, and the amount of undertakim: to which tiie borough was committed He thought each local bodv entailed in r'.ieh undertaking should make such n return to the board, so as to obviate the recessitv of (join? over the same eronnd in eonnnection with each appeal that micjiit subsequently be heard. A r»turn was put in by Mr. Black. on behalf of the New Plymouth Borough Council, but it did not show the annual production of th» electrical department.

SINE DIE DECISIONS. Iu the following cases the board adhered to its previous decisions to adjourn the appeals sine diei—Hugh. Wis(mrt iPaterson, farmer, Kaimiio; Sidney Maurice C'oombe, fanner, Oaonui. in Llio appeals of .Robert Borrows, slieep. f aimer, IJruti, Itaymond W; Dawson A dairy farmer, Kahotu, and Alfred & Looney, dairy farmer, lvoru, the board reserved its decision, sine die,

Thomas Borthwiek and Sons (Mr.. S. [1 Killing) appealed on behalf of Thomas Kent, fitter and turner in th© company's works at V\ aitara. Thomas Blair, works manager, said that Kent did most of tht" repair work required, and it, was more dillieult to get the work dont> outside now than before the war, owing to the "Caicitv of l&ibor. There was a man in Waitara who could do the work, but he was largely engaged in work for the dair\ farmers about the country and was away from home for a week and ten days at a time, and was not available at the works. Kent was engaged in work in connection with the repairs to jij> frigerating machinery, which required a very capable vyorkman. They had advertised, in order to try and fill Kent's place, and also communicated with other branches of the linn's business, but had not been able to get anyone. Decision was reserved sine die. INDEFINITE LEAVE. i

Trooper J. A- M'Eidowney (Mr. A. H. Johnstone), a returned soldier, of liei'dkupa, applied for extension of leave. Evidence was given by Mr. G. H. Bullard.' 'Commissioner of Crown Lands for Taranaki, who described the lands held under lease from the Crown by the il'Eldowney brothers. He believed there would be work enough for three men on the farms, and did not think Mr. Jury, a neighbor, could give reasonable attention to his own and the .M'Eldowney farms. It was the class of country which required i.-'cn with considerable experience and some capital, and the men returning from the front just now did not aimear to have either. A transfer of the'property to an adjoining owner had been applied for, hut the Land Board could not sanction it. as it would result in th# purchaser holding more than the area allowed.

The board granted indefinite leave. APPEALS ADJOURNED. Hie appeals of the following reservists, which had been considered at previous settings, were further adjournedWm. l'atritk Corcoran, farmer, Ufenui; Walter Buchanan, butcher, Waitara; TtiosMurphy, laborer, Egmont Village; Robert 13. Whitehead, farmer, Okato- Tli« appeals of Alfred J. Guscott, sheep farmer. Carrington Road, and Arthur J. Hale, tanner, Hillsborough, were adjournal till the next sitting of the board.

APPEALS WITH DRAWN, The following appeals were withdrawn Patrick Joseph O'Grady, farm manager, Urenui; Reginald John Marsh, dairy farmer, Egmont Village, appellants being granted leave until the September draft. mobilisation. Frank Herbert Jeilyman, meat exporter, Vogelfown, was gi\eu leave until November, and therefor.- withdrew hi s appeal. APPEAL DISMISSED. The appeal of Andrew Turnbull, farmer. Sentry Hill, was formally dismissed, appellant having J weu e | aaßW j (g j n , (] ie ' Medical Hoard The appeal of (Seorgr William M'Kee, storemai,. Vogeltmvn, "-"bo applied for leave on account c{ tbi> health of his v. ile, was dismisssed, he being given leave till the September drait.

UNDER AGE. The appeals of Henrv J. Frost, Omata, and -Stanley H. Mercer. Waitara, were allowed, the appellants being under miliThe board adjourned .till 10 o'clock this morning.