MANPOWER COMMITTEE SITS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 240, 20 November 1940, Page 5

MANPOWER COMMITTEE SITS

WHAKATANE APPLICANTS

LENGTHY LIST FOR FIRST DAiY FARM LABOURERS DIFFICULTIES . -£■' "• '. . — L - The reasonable attitude adopt■ed by the Manpower Committee operating in the No. 2 Military /'District,' which sat in Whaka'tane yesterday, was warmly appreciated by the majority of those applying for exemption .and in practically all cases applicants were willing' to make an effort to on in the -event of reservists obtaining a " postponement till the end of March when the peak of the sea -son had passed. The committee IktoMtfQinprised Messrs R. Coulter HH^Tchairman), G. Buchanan and E. ' ..Wilton and in the words of the chairman sought the co-op-eration of the farmers in making it possible for all fit men to train against the possibility of linvasion. While it was their • duty to send all men to camp if possible, they had, at the same time to preserve the balance of the primary production of the country, and if possible of increasing it. They •were willing to give a fair r hearing to all cases and would! meet applicants in every way.

" In the case of Alexander Watson who sought exemption, the application was supported by his employer, Mr L. Luke who said that appellant was managing and breaking in ran area of 700 acres. It was hoped to be able to run a herd of 200 cows next year on the property. Watson was a young married man who had given tli© utmost satisfaction and would be almost impossible to replace. To Mr Coulter, he admitted that it might be possible to carry on at ti pinch if the date of military train ing was advanced though there was much preparatory work still to do jn the late autumn. Application was dismissed subject to reservist not being required to go to camp before April 1. Committee's Congratulations "William Purcell Windle, for whom his father, W. M. Windle, appealed was. described as a firstclass dairyman who was the only •assistant on a farm of 200 acrcs which was run by the family on a :sharemillting basis. Should he be forced to go into camp, the contract with the owner would be broken as it was impossible to replace him; Appellant was congratulated by the committee on his offering to • carry on by himself later in the season. Application dismissed subject to reservist not being required before April,'and committee to be advised in the event of any serious • difficulty arising in the meanwhile. David Bernard. Frankland for whom his widowed mother appealed w T as also described as indispensible. being the only man on a farm : •of 150 acres which the family had broken in and brought into production oh their own account.

Request for Revolvers In a letter to the committee, the : appellant stated that from previous experience she flid not desire to have any hired labour on the farm. Farmers wives, she deealred were •asking their husbands the meaning ■of bringing hoboes,, tramps and • drifters into their homes. She concluded by asking in the event of her son being forced to go into <camp, that a couple of Colt revolv T ~£rs be sent to her so that she and daughters could at least not go - own without a fight. Mr" Coulter: Do you yourself, go into the shed? Appellant: Yes, I was there this •morning at 4.30 a.m. Decision was reserved/ For the exemption of Gordon Joseph Allen, his employer, Mrs L. M. "Palmes stated that he was the only son of the sharemilker on her farm. His father Avas not a strong man and depended on his son to do most' of the work. On 200 acres 112 cows were milked. She would appreciate an advancement of the date in order to allow the busy part of the season to pass. Case adjourned till March 1, when it would be reviewed, the committee expressing a desire to be satisfied that the herd would be properly looked after in reservist's ab--sence. - : * Donald S- Baty was represented • Joy his employer, F. A, Dawson, who

said that he was appealing for total exemption on the grounds that reservist was his senior man and it was impossible to carry on the farm without him. There were 107 cows to be milked and this number employed himself and two others. When asked if he could carry on in May without Baty, appellant replied that he took almost as much milk at that timi j as during any

other month. Appeal was adjourned till March next when it would come np for reconsideration. Pleading that his son, Eric Emery was the only practical man employed on a property of 24(5 acres as far as general farm work was concerned, W. Emery said that in spite of his 69 years he was still endeavouring to work on the and increase production. Appellant agreed however that during the off season it might be possible to spare him. Dismissed' subject to reservist not being called up before April.

Sacrifice of Business

The sacrifice of his business was proffered by Allan A. Newman as a pressing reason why he should not be required to go to camp at once. He explained that its whole success depended on correct and intelligent buying. Since the death of his father there was none other who could take charge of the shop m his absence. He added that he was quite willing to train.

Mr Coulter: It is possible in certain cases to get periodic leave from camp particularly if this committee recommends it. , Application dismissed subject to reservist not being called before April. In appealing for temporary exemption for David Henry Beale, A. Righton, cordial manufacturer, stated that since his son was in the territorial camp at Te Aroha, he was left with Beale alone to carry on.

The committee expressed the opin ion that the son would be out of camp by the end of December and would therefore be able to relieve. Appeal was dismissed to be reopened in the event of anything preventing the return of appellant's son.

Undue Hardship Maintaining that undue hardship would result from his brother (Stanley Cannell) going to camp. J. C. Cannell, a returned soldier explained that on their farm of 180 acres they went in extensively for root crops which took much time between milkings. In view of this they experienced no slack periods and ordinary farm hands refused to stay owing to the long hours. "Someone's got to make a sacrifice these days," observed Mr Coulter, "this is a national occasioh.'' The appeal was dismissed subject to recruit not being called up before April, and fresh difficulties to be communicated to secretary. Pleading an invalid father Maurice Arthur Grace said he assisted in the management of two farms, one of which was now in the process of being broken in. They had latterly increased their herd and in the interests of production he considered it would be contrary to the country's production to be called away. Appellant said he would endeavour to arrange to get away on April 1 for three months training and the case was entered accordingly.

On behalf of his son, W. G. Howat applied for exemption on the grounds of undue hardship in the event of his leaving. He stated that one son was already abroad with the third echelon and the other had.entered the ministry. He had never touched the machines himself and rather than engage another man he would prefer to sell the herd. Mr Coulter: I't doesn't help the committee to talk of selling, w r e j wish to safeguard production and to meet farmers in a reasonable way Service was deferred till April. Attitude Appreciated The loss of Albert Ivlatt, would be a serious blow to the management of his farm, declared W. J. Hart, who appealed for exemption. In all 140 cows were milked and appellan asked for an extension till A P ri after which he might be able o manage. "We appreciate your attitude, said Mr Coulter and the case was adjourned till March when it would again be reviewed. Mr G. Otley appeared in supporf of the appeal on behalf of Hanoi'"! E. Revcll, who in partnership his brother was assisting in t> milking of 180 cows. The farm " 240 acres and there were also ° ■ pigs.

J. G. Revel 1 the other brother said that they had offered £2 over the award to farm workers, who however would not stay owing to the long hours. He would do his best to work in with the authorities if an extension could be granted. "We are worried how you are going to cope with that big herd, i? your brother goes," said the chairman and the case was stood down for review next March.

"Much Happier"

G. H. Price a Western Tload farmer applied for exemption for Leslie Joseph Traces 7 . He did not-wish to be confused with those who resented military training, having lost no less than nine men who had already enlisted. He had in fact encouraged them in the past but it had just come to this that lie had to do something now or. his living was in jeopardy. Reservist Avas suspended till April, the chairman assuring the appellant that it Avas never the intention of the committee to see any farmer actually 'stuck' for labour.

Mr Price: I'm very, much happier now, thank you. This labour question had just about got me in the 'rats.' L. W. Luxton, in appealing for the retention of R. J. Moore, offered to make alternative arrangements after April' 1. The man he claimed was a key employee who could not be spared during the season. Granted accordingly. Conscription not Anticipated Mr Otley. appeared for Mr D. S. Radcliffe owner of three farms, totalling 635 acres, who sought the retention of Walter A. G. Hyland one of his sharemilkers. Asked by Mr Coulter if he had not anticipated compulsory training when he engaged reservist, Mr Radcilffe replied: No sir, I did not think that this Government would ever bring in conscription. He did not wish to hold th.e man back but if production was to be maintained it was imperative to finish the season;

Case adjourned till March

The same employer applied for Stephen James Biddois who was the only, man left to assist his sharemilker E. W. Delahunty, and the case was treated similarly.

A farmer who had had both hi 4 sons called up, A. E. Lambert, said that they were the only ones he employed on a farm of 321 acres which they were developing in order to assist production. Both men (B. W. and R. EL, Lambert) had been trained to their especial work were,- necessary to the farms development and to try and replace; them with the type of labour now offering was to court insanity. The built of the work oh farms now was carried by the older farmers but he had discussed the matter with his family and they could offer to spare | one son s*t the end of the season.

Mr Coulter said the committee recognised the difficulties and provide for B. W. Laiijbert to enter camp on April 1;, and the case of the other son to be adjourned sine die.

Other Farmers Appeal

The appeal of M. Shaw on behalf of Wm. Holmes Shearer, was adjourned till March when the reservist himself proffered the information that by paying a higher wage he could probably arrange for assistance. Keith Athol Ferguson, was required to attend camp not later than April 1, after the hearing of the appeal by his employer W. Ju Symons. Reservist was described as a first class man w T ho was vital to the farm management during the season Pleading that Francis Haydn Marx was now the only assistant left to assist him with a herd which normally required three men,, his father Carl Marx asked for postponement of his military service. The herd numbered 110 cows in all and he would be in a serious position if he were removed. Adjourned till March for further hearing. J. J. Sax (Mr C. A. Suckling) for his son J. A. Sax, intimated that both his sons had been called in the first and second ballots. He himself was unable to take an active part in the work of managing owing to ill-health, and his daughter assisted in the shed.

Period of training deferred till

April 1. P. M. Butler, whose father J. J. Butler entered an appeal agreed that April would be a suitable perv.i to take his military training ->d an extension was granted ac"lingly.