TERRITORIAL SERVICE

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1940, Page 14

TERRITORIAL SERVICE

■ REEFTON DISTRICT APPEALS. [OUR’OWN CORRESPONDENT.] REEFTON, December 4. A sitting of the Westland District Manpower Committee was held at the Court House, Reefton, to-day, when appeals against Territorial service were heard. Brigadier-General Meldrum was chairman, Messrs. P. J. McLean, A. J. Panther and the secretary (J. Shapcott) being present. Blackwater Mines Ltd. appealed for Claude Downes, timberman, George Young, miner and William D. Brown, trucker. Mr. W. J. Humphries, general manager, Blackwater Mines Ltd., submitted a written statement, to the effect that the appeal for Downes was made on the grounds that he was a mine timber man and level repairer, his work being of a special nature. The Company could not replace the recruit. If he was removed from the mine, the mine output would suffer as the recruit was kept constantly employed repairing levels needed to transport ore.- In the case of Young and Brown, it would be difficult to replace both recruits. The mine had lost 13 men by enliestment. Mr. W. Gore Porter, secretary, gave evidence in support of all three appeals. The three appeals were adjourned sine die. Thomas McCauliffe, appealed on the grounds of public interest and of undue hardship. A written statement was submitted by James McCauliffe, who asked for total exemption for his only son, Thomas. They had a farm of 666 acres, running 35 cows and a large flock of sheep. The recruit was the only shearer available in the area and would shortly have 1000 sheep to shear. They also had 100 acres of bush burn to be sown in the coming Winter. Mr. A. D. Mercer, Fields Inspector, corroborated the statement of Mr. McCauliffe, and pointed out that Mr. McCauliffe was not in good health and the difficulty of replacing men on farms particularly in the Maruia area where the appellant resided.—Appeal adjourned to May 31, to be then reviewed. Mary Wraight, appeal for Charles J. Wraight, on grounds of undue hardship and of public interest. Appellant submitted a statement that the recruit was the only son on the farm. One son was serving overseas. They were milking a large herd of cows and running dry stock, also 400 sheep. Mr. Mercer gave evidence in support of the appeal. He considered that it was vital, for the production on this farm that recruit should be allowed to remain for some months.—Appeal adjourned until May 31, to be then reviewed.

Eliza J. Creighton appealed for Eric A. Bailey, her employee, on grounds of undue hardship and public interest. In a statement submitted, Mrs. Creighton said that she was 80 years of age, and a widow, living with her daughter. The recruit was the only man employed on the farm, which carried some 400 sheep and a herd of cows. Her daughter and a grand-daughter assisted on the farm. They could not carry on the work if the recruit were removed. Mr. Mercer gave evidence in support of the appeal, showing that in the Maruia area where recruit worked, it was impossible to obtain labour for replacements. There were only the three women and Bailey on the farm and this man’s work was essential. Appeal, on grounds of public interest struck out, that for undue hardship adjourned to May 31 to be reviewed. William G. Poulter appealed for Maxwell G. Poulter on the grounds of difficulty to carry on farming operations without recruit’s services. In a statement, appellant said he was 64 years of age and not in good health. Mr. Mercer supported the appeal, but stated that appellant was willing to have recruit go to camp in the Winter months. The recruit w r as also anxious to carry out his training and they asked for a postponement of service. —Period of service postponed until May 1. James B. Milligan appealed for James W. Milligan, on grounds of undue hardship and public interest. He asked for a postponement of service. A statement submitted showed that appellant was a farmer. He held 497 acres and milked 34 cows, and had sheep and dry stock on the area. Mr. Mercer corroborated these statements. —Postponement of service granted for three months.

Andrew Douglas appealed for his son, William Douglas, on grounds of undue hardship and public interest. There being no appearance of appellant or recruit, the Committee did not accept a statement submitted by appellant.—Appeal adjourned, to be heard at Greymouth at next sitting of Committee.

David H. Ross appealed on grounds of public interest and undue hardship. Evidence was given by appellant that he was joint owner with his brother, who was in bad health, of 240 acres of land at Inangahua Landing. They milked by hand 20 cows. He could undertake to do his training in the Winter months.—Appeal on grounds of public interest dismissed. Postponement of service to May 1 granted. Gilsennan Bros., appeal on grounds of undue hardship and public interest for Francis J. Schwass. Richard Gilsennan gave evidence that recruit was employed by them as a prop-cutter and bushman. They had a contract with the State Mines for the supply of mining timber and pit props and also supplied logs to Inangahua Landing sawmill. The recruit was 23 years of age and a skilled bushman. They were working short handed and could not get an extra man or replace the recruit if he went to camp.—Appeal adjourned sine die. The Director of National Service appealed for Arthur A. Le Petit, porter, Reefton, and Charles Douglas Foster-Davidson, ’ engine cleaner and acting-fireman, on the grounds of public interest. Application was made for • a postponement of service for both recruits for a term of six months. A statement was submitted by the General Manager of Railways who said that it was only decided to apply for exemption from service for a period for skilled railway workers in all branches, whose absence from the service would cause inconveni ence and dislocation of train working.—Both recruits were granted postponement of service for six months.