MILITARY SERVICE BOARDS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15930, 18 June 1917, Page 10

MILITARY SERVICE BOARDS.

CANTEBBUBY So. 2.

SITTINGS IN CHRISTCHURCH

The Second Canterbury Military Ser- • vice Board sat in Christchurch on Sati urday. The Board consisted of Messrs H. W. Bishop, S.M. (chairman, M. j G. Rich. F. T. Elaridge, and Captain I Ruck (secretary). Major Gresson appeared as military representative. ' FREEZING COMPANY'S APPEAL. On the ground that ho was chief ! electrician of tbo Canterbury Freezing Works. Belfast, Thos. Borthwick and Sons ("Mr Gresson) appealed on behalf of Frederick . John Stanley Margetts, electrician. 20 Meadow street, Papanui. Margetts said that his firm was the first in New Zealand to run its works by electricity. Mr Gresson said that- the work done by Margetts was not ordinary electrician's work, and he would bring evidence to show that lie could not be replaced. The chairman: What are vou'askin" for? Mr Gresson: We are asking for exemption. The chairman: Well, you won't-'-ot it. Mr Gresson explained that the meat of the firm was for the Imperial Government. lie thought that the same consideration should bo given to iliis case as had been given slaughtermen. The chairman pointed out that slaughtermen had not been exempted altogether. Their eases would nil bo reviewed again when the First Division was exhausted. Mr Gresson said that i ;) that case he would apply for Margetts to he placcd on just the same footing as the slaughtermen, for without the latter, the freezing works could do nothing. Evidence was;.;iven as to the impos-j sibility of getting suitable men to fill such positions as that held by Margetts. A thoroughly skilled man wa,« absolutely necessary at the works, it was stated, for the safety of the other employees." The appeal was dismissed and an extension until August 20th was allowed . A SKILLED BLACKSMITH. Cooper and Duncan. Ltd. (Mr Harper) applied for the discharge of their foreman blacksmith.' John William Meadows, J7 Huxley street. Sydenham, who had voluntarily enlisted and was duo in camp on June 25th. In support of their appeal, the appellant linn said that Meadows was an expert, plough-maker, and as so many cf their hands had been sent to the* war. bis services were needed a? coach ar.d supervisor of the new hands who had been taken on in place of those who had "We understand the Military Service Boards will not hear an appeal from a. voluntary recruit who has been sworn in," the appeal continued. "Wt» understand that he, having been , sworn in, has to bo discharged by the authorities. Will you please advise us if this is correct, and if so. can the Department see its way to disc-barge hiir.?" Thirty-one of the firm's staff, it was added, had gone to tho war voluntarily, and eight had gone under the ballot, and only oneo had the firm appealed, in. order to allow an employee to finish liis apprenticeship.

George* Cooper, acting-manager of the firm, gave cvidonee as to the skilled ■nature of_ Moadows's work, and'asked il leave till October might be given. The appeal was dismissed and the Board decided to reeominond that leave be granted .until the exhaustion of the First Division, Meadows then to'go into camp automatically.

RE-HEAR IXG REFUSED. An application was made by the military authorities for a re-hearing in the case of .Joseph Edward Beckett., dairyman. 227 Colombo . street, 'on the grounds that at the hearing of the ease it was stated and assumed that the appellant had been classed C, whereas liis DroDer classification was A. Major Gresson said that the mistake bad been a Departmental one, and ho bad asked for a re-hearing j n order that Beckett might have a chance to argue bis case. Beckett, however, did not appear, and on Major Gresson's application, the re-hearing was refused. ' ° TIME ALLOWED. Thomas Voice Blackburn, fireman. N.Z. Railways, 91 Cutler's road. Riecarton, put forward "private affairs and family matters" as the grounds for his appeal. He was given time ■until August 20th. Levi Lowe appealed ou behalf of James Henry Lowe. farm manager, nrl i] 10 jr ri -,nnd.s that apnellant was unable to work 6wing to "illness. An extension of time until July 23rd was granted. UNFIT. Robert T. Graham, labourer. Devon street. St. Albans, appealed on the ground that. Laving been discharged from Trentham in 1910, after four months' service, lie bad pot married. His wife was in very delicate health, and had been under a doctor for some time. He produced a certificate Lo show that he bad been medically examined and classed "D," and his :;p----peal was therefore dismissed. The Canterbury Military Service Board will sit at llangiora on "Wednesday and in Christchurch on Thursday. The members of the Xo. 2 Board leave for Timaru to-dav. rind will sic there to-morrow and "Wednesday, and perhaps on.Thursday. '[Tie Board wll return to Christchurch. on Thursday J and sit here on-Friday.

I AX INVENTOR-FABMER. j At. the sitting of the Otago ! Serricc Board on Friday, j llichard M'ra. Pearse (farmer, Milj ton} submitted a statement of his | affairs. Ho had four brothers —one | who was wounded in Franee, one in i Trentham Camp., otic who had been f turned down, and one who was a doctor 1 in I/ondon. The brother who was unfit was booking after the. other brothers' farms in Canterbury. The Chairman: Have you tried to lease your farm to a neighbour ? Appellant: No: but I have tried to sell "it. No od<> hero will lease a farm. If the land is not. attended to it goes back as there are no hands to keep ; the weeds down. Captain Barrett: Do you devote the whole of your lime to working the farm? —Yes, pretty well*. Captain Barrett: You are of a ! mechanical turn of mind, aro you not, and devote a considerable amount of time to experimenting in your work-I shop? I do spend some time there. j Captain Barrett: You have construct- i ed an airship, have you not?— Yes, but that was in -Canterbury. Captain Barrett: Do you continue your experimente now ? —Yes: I have been experimenting with a motorplough. Captain Barrett: That would occupy a considerable amount of your time?— It ha? not occupied much of my time lately. I am doing pioneer work and research work, and getting no salarr for itCaptain Barrett: I commend you for your experimental work, and hone you wil] be successful'. You also "spend some time playing golf. do you not? — I have not averaged more than half a dnv a week for the past year. j The Chairman : Every man i$ entitled

Captain Barrett: My point is thatthis man has a small farm, which is of no benefit to the country. He does not spend much time on the farm, and his financial position would bo almost a 5 good in camp. Appellant: All tho work I am doing on tno farm is for tho benefit of the farm. Tho work on the agricultural motor is to mako myeelf independent of contractors. The Chairman said the. case "would be adjourned until the nest sitting for a report from the Efficiency Board. < Appellant said he was willing to sell his farm to tho Government for returned soldiers. The Chairman advised The appellant to bring the matter under the notice of the Efficiency Board. Appellant: I am willing to go if tlicv tnlie over roy liabilities.