“Impossible Time To Attend Camp”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31238, 9 December 1966, Page 11

“Impossible Time To Attend Camp”

The Army could not have chosen a more impossible time than January and February for farmers and farm workers to attend annual camp, the No. 14 Military Training Postponement Committee was told on Wednesday.

The committee adjourned sine die applications for postponement from 12 farmers, farmers* sons or farm workers. Two similar applicants had their training postponed for 12 months, and another application was adjourned for 12 months. “Casual labour is nonexistent as far as farming is concerned,” said Mr J. M. Pickering, a farmer, who appeared on behalf of his son, William Dickson Pickering. He was thus unable to find a replacement for his so< who was needed on the farm during the peak time of the year. The application was adjourned for 12 months. In all the other applications of this type, the committee was told that men could not be absent during January and February, when there was shearing, harvesting and other work to be done. Complaints about the scarcity of labour were numerous. Asked whether he could employ a student while his son was away, one farmer,

Mr J. D. Gallagher, replied: “Would you like to put a university student on a £2OOO machine?” Many applicants said they would be willing to attend camp during late autumn or winter, and the committee granted sine die adjournments on the condition that if the Army made training between April and August, the applications would be subject to review. "In the South Island there

Is not one unit up to strength.” said Captain L H. Billing, who appeared for the Army. “The problem is aggravated because of the terrific number of postponements." Four of the postponements or adjournments that day had been granted to members of a single specialist platoon, he said. The committee reserved its decision on applications on behalf of Anthony Malcolm Hogarth, a stock agent, and Graeme James Goddard, a driver, made by their employers. Other decisions were:— Adjourned sine die: Robert John Bennett, Peter David Carter, Gordon Thomas Carter, Maurice John Borcoskie,

John Frederick Gallagher, Harold Hamish HartnelL William Lee Hassall. Robin Hugh Kelso, Brian Thomas McLaughlin, Kenneth John Reese, Kevin Bernard Smith, Evan John Millar (fanners). Paul Anthony Robertson, Beau David McCracken (dependants), Murray Siera (student).

Training postponed 12 months: Kevin George Ellis (grocer), Russell Robert Mackay (mechanic), John Barclay Rainey, William Robert Wilkes (farmers), John Travis Cornwall Tissaman (fisherman).

Six months* postponement: Peter James McGill (seed buyer), lan Lyndsay Miller (swimming pool custodian).