APPEAL BOARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 August 1941, Page 6

APPEAL BOARD

SITTING IN MASTERTON MEN FOR OVERSEAS SERVICE. HEARING OF DISTRICT CASES. A sitting of the No. 4 Armed Forces Appeal Board commenced in Masterton today. The chairman, Mr W. F. Stilwell, S.M., presided. There were also present Messrs W. J. G. Brodie.' A. Parlane. C. O. Bell (Crown representative) and B. A. Roundhill (secre-1 tary). The majority of cases heard this morning were lodged on the grounds of undue hardship and public interest. The applications came from all parts of the Wairarapa district. Nine appeals against service on the grounds of conscientious objection are set down for hearing late this afternoon. Mr Stilwell intimated that a sine die adjournment was not a complete exemption from military service, as all cases would be speedily reviewed on account of the fact that married men would soon be called up.

Neil Stanley Luttrell, farm hand (appellant, Mrs E. Luttrell) appealed on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship. Mr S. R. Gawith appeared for the reservist. The appeal was adjourned sine die, with the proviso that the reservist join the Home Guard within 14 days.

An appeal by Norman Roland Rose, farm labourer, on the grounds of status was granted. Mr H. H. Daniell appeared for the reservist. With the consent of Mr Bell, an appeal lodged by the Director of National Service for Albert Campbell Rose, farm hand on the grounds of public interest, was withdrawn. Mr Bell said that since the appeal had been lodged a farm hand had been secured . to replace the reservist. In the following cases the appeals were lodged on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship: —

An appeal by W. H. Bubb against the calling up of Thomas Olliver Bubb was adjourned sine die. Mr S. V. Gooding appeared for the appellant. Mr R. N. Palmer, a farmer of Longbush, appeared in support of the appeal. He said that owing to an acute shortage of farm labour the reservist would be required to assist on his farm, and on others in the district, in the time the reservist could be spared off his father’s farm. The trustees of the estate of James A. McLean appealed against the calling up of James Alexander McLean, farm labourer. Mr J. Macfarlane Laing appeared for the appellants. Evidence as to the difficulty in replacing men on the farm was given by Mr A. M. Henderson, retired manager of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., Masterton. In his opinion the qualities of the men available were low. The appeal was adjourned for four months when the case would be reviewed. J. McGillicuddy appealed on behalf of John Russell Flynn, farm hand. The appeal was adjourned sine die. An appeal by Eric L. Riddiford on behalf of his head shepherd, Donald James O’Brien, was withdrawn, with the consent of Mr Bell. An appeal lodged by S. J. Nix for Harold Steven Edwards, farm labourer, on the grounds of public interest was dismissed, the reservist not to be called up until after November 30. 1941. The Dalefield Dairy Company appealed against the calling up of Robert George Castle, cheese maker, on the grounds of public interest. The manager, Mr C. Linton, stated in evidence that the work of manufacturing cheese required men in the 18-40 .age group of a high physical standard. Owing to the work being hard and seasonal, with long hours, the occupation was not attractive to workers. In view of the urgent need of cheese by the British Food Ministry its manufacture was of great importance. In reply to Mr Bell, the appellant stated that Castle was 38 years old and was employed as a fourth assistant. The appeal was adjourned sine die with the direction that the reservist join the Carterton unit of the Home Guard within 14 days. An appeal by A. Sharp on behalf of Richard Charles Sharp, farm hand (Mr S. R. Gawith) was adjourned sine die.