MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1918, Page 6

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD.

NEW PLYMOUTH SITTINGS. The First Wellington Military Service Board, consisting of Messrs D. G. A. Cooper, S.M. (chairman) ! D. McLaren and T Young, sat at New Plymouth yesterday. Major Cox Group Commander at Hawera, represented the Defence Department. METALLURGIST'S APPLICATION. I W. J. Penn, chairman of the Ircnsand Co., appeared in support of the application for extension o£ leave lor John Ambrose Heskett, metallurgist, New Plymouth. Witness stated that the hearing had been previously adjourned m order that the reservist might he retained to carry out some tests at the ironsand : melting works. Some uirliculty had been experienced in getting coal and coke, but a vessel was due at New Plymouth soon with supplies for the company and it was expected that a commencement with charging the furnace would be made almost immediately. The trial would take about a week, and if it was successful the company would appeal on behalf of Heskett. If unsuccessful no further adjournment would be asked for, but in the meantime the company regarded it as essential that Heskett should be retainej the trials were completed. A member of the Board: A rather severe penalty (Laughter.) The ease was adjourned till the next sitting of the board. CREAMERY MANAGER'S APPEAL. Edward McCormack, dairy factory manager, New Plymouth, appealed on the ground of public interest and undue hardship. Evidence was given by Hugh Baily, secretary of the Omata Dairy Co. He stated the reservist was general manager of the company and manager of the Omata Creamery Factory lie vas engaged some three years ago on account of his special qualifications in dealing with - large number of small supplies of cream. The work was different from that at factories where they aean with whole milk supply. They had no one who could fill McCormack's place, and did not kuow where they could get anyone. The board reserved decision sine die. MILKING MACHINE MANAGER. Ambrose Ridd, managing director of thii Ridd Milking Machine Co., appeared in support of an appeal on beiialf of Fveginald Harold George, manager and secretary of the company. He was a marired man with one child and had been in the employ of the company since its inception about ten years ago. The company employed about ten hands in New Zealand, but the bulk of the business was done through agents. There were three employed in the New Plymouth branch of the company Previous to last year they had employed from eight to ten hands, but on account of many of them being called up for service they had had to hand over the Taranaki business to an agent. Mr George managed the whole business in New Zealand and Australia. They hsd a, representative in Australia who had I befin with them for five years. He was not in a position to take 7\lr George's place. To Major Cox: He had not advertised for anyone to fill Mr George's place. Witness was in touch with most of the men associated with milking machine plants, and did not know where he could get a man. Mr George knew more about the details of the machine with respect to ordering parts and such like. Witness could not take up Mr George's woi-k as he was engaged supervising agents and attending to the erection of plants and his time was fully occu pi oil. He admitted he could do Mr George' 3 work, but it would cause inconvenience and confusion in the ofiice for a time. There were five shareholders in the company and all were in New Plymouth. Mr Xewton Kin"_, who was a shareholder, had taken the Taranaki agency Mr George had been to jWtralia about twelve months ago last April, and once" before that.

Major Cox: Considering all the principals arc in New Zealand not the Australian manager be brought over, and the business run from here? Witness: The business was a peculiar one, and a representative in Australia was necessary. To the chairman: There was r.o one to assist Mr George in New Zealand. Mr Young: Are you the patentee of ti.'e machine? Witness: Yes. Then why should Mr George know more about the machine than you?—He doesn't, except in respect to pur&v-iing supplies and parts. Continuing, witness said that winle Mr George was in Australia he looked after the business here; but that was in the slack season. The company had ten hands in New Zealand; but they were salesmen and fitters. The appeal was dismissed, leave being granted till the November draft. A RELIGIOUS OBJECTOR. Ernest Henry Gray, farm hand, Okato, applied, on the ground of religious objections. to be recommended to be placed in the Ambulance Corps. Appellant said he belonged to no sect, though he was itally of the Brethren. Tic objected on principle and ir. obedience to the Word of God, to kill. He was perfectly willing to go into the Ambulance and do what he could in that connection for King and country.

, Mr. ioung: ioil know it is much more dangerous I—iWituess:1 —iWituess: I shall be well satisfied. Appellant said he was ordered into camp on Octmbpr -23. ;ITe had a good deal of work to finish, and would be obliged if he could be granted a little extension of leave. The board granted leave till the November draft. BUTTER AFCTORY .MANAGER'S APPEAL. •James Askew, chairman of the Tarata Dairy Company, gn\e evidence in support of the appeal of John J. Lynch (Mr. Billing), manager of the butter factory at Tarata. He was the only employee at the factory, except that in the (lush of the season liis wife assisted him. The manager could not carry on without some assistance. Last year they had 29 suppliers, who separated their milk at home and delivered the cream at the factory. The output last year was about tons- That was a small return. To Major Cox: He supposed if he lost Lynch, he could only he replaced by taking a man from another factory. Previous to coming to the Tarata factory, ho had teen employed at the Pa.l- - Fresh Food and Ice Company U engineer. Witness had taken no

had not advertised for a manager. In reply to the board, witness said if an unfit reservist could be got to do the work they would take him. They were in the hack blocks somewhat, and it was hard to get people to go out there. The hearing was adjourned till next sitting of the board in Xew Plymouth. A BOOKSELLER'S APPEAL. Thomas Avery, bookseller, stationer, and printer, New Plymouth, appealed on behalf of Thomas Montague Avery, who was in the bookselling and stationery business. Witness had four sons, three o: whom were at the front, one of them having been in Egypt for four years. Tiie other two were in France. In the shop there were four assistants besides his son, and m the printing works there were five assistants. There was no one in the business who could fill reservist's place. He had been in the business about 15 years- One of his sons had been brought home from America, and when he vas called up he had been given exemption till the last draft of single men was called up. To Major Cox: The son Thomas was in charge of the bookselling business. Witness >vas at the head of the business, but gave most of his time to the printing. The assistants in the shop were yttfing ladies. tine of them had lieen in the shop about five, years. She had a good experience of the stock. -It was not the selling that was the trouble; anyone could sell. The important thing was the knowledge of what to buy Witness had been in business over 10 years, and was not now able to take so much of the responsibility, on account of advancing years, as he had done previously Decision was reserved sine die. on the usual conditions, but subject to the return of the brother who had been on active service for over four years. A NURSERYMAN'S APPEAL. Robert William J. Davies (Mr. A. H. Johnstone), manager of Duncan'and Davis. Ltd., nurserymen, Westown, New Plymouth, said his brother was in France, and Mr. Duncan had died, and his family lived on and were dependent on the nursery The area of the nursery wSs 121/3 acres, an was the second or third largest nursery in the DominionThe firm's collection of native trees was said to be the best in New Zealand; Witness employed seven men and three women. There was only one man besides witness who could do propagatory work. At present he had (>OOO orange stocks to be grafted, which witness would have to do himself. The average plant had to be under care for three seasons. Inquiries through the Nurserymen's Association had failed to find anyone who could take appellant's place. Witness worked at this season of the year from 7.30 a.m. till about 9.30 at liight, and often on SundaysTo Major Cox: The brother in France v/as manager of the business prior to h:°s going away. To the board: None of the men employed were competent propagators. They were mostly over age and did iittle more than laborers' work. He had one lady employee who had been home to TCew, and she was in charge of all the ferns, and was doing very well. The appeal was adjourned sine die 011 the usual conditions. SINE DIE DECISIONS. The board reserved decision sine die, 01; the usual conditions, 111 the following cases: —Arno Cole (Mr. A- A. Bennett), dairy farmer, Onaero, Waitara; David D. Griffiths (Mr. Bennett), dairy farmer, Tikorangi; Charles F. Weston (Mr- 11. 1! Billing), farmer. Korito;; Percy Sinclair Elliott (Mr. Bennett), farm hand, Onaero, Waitara. " ' APPEALS ADJOURNED. The following appeals were adjourned for further hearing:—Francis Hearn Mills (Mr- A. A. Bennett), farmer, Matau, Inglewood; Alphonso Wood, dairy farmer, Omata: Joseph Courtenay Lobb, dairy farmer, Westown, Xew Ptynioun(pending re-examination): Arthur jsvnI est Lethbridge (Mr. A. TJ. Johnstone), farm manager, Sentry Hill; Cyril Edwin George (Mr. T. P. Anderson), dairy farmer, Tataraimaka; Peter Godinagh (.Mr. ißennctt), farmer, Brixton, New Plymouth; Walter Hoskin (Mr. Billing), dairy fanner, IBell Block; Frederick Charles Harrison, dairy farmer, Wurwftrtli, New Plymouth; William P. 'Xicoll Mr. T. P Anderson), grain and produce merchant, New Plymouth. APPEALS DISMISSED. The following appeals were dismissed: —Vorley William Cheshire, farmer. Koru: Heath Charles Riley (Mr. F. E. Wilson), dairy farmer, Tataraimaka; Edward 0. Julian (Mr- Johnstone), farmer. Warea (with leave till the October CI draft); Arthur Gordon Thomas, carpenter. New Plymouth. # . APPEALS WITHDRAWN. The following appeals were withdrawn:—Leonard Andrews, cooper, Waitara (employer's appeal); Valentine DIIIT, accountant. New Plymouth. The hoard adjourned till 10 o'clock tl.is morning-