MAN-POWER COMMITTEE

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 August 1941, Page 2

MAN-POWER COMMITTEE

TERRITORIAL SERVICE APPEALS A sitting of the Grey Man Power Committee, Messrs W. Meldrum (chairman), P. J. McLean, and A. Panther was held at Greymouth, yesterday afternoon, when 19 appeals against territorial service were heard. In the case of George William Skeats, signwriter, Mr E. B. E. Taylor appeared for reservist, and said that the contract which had caused reservist’s appeal was now practically comnleted. The Secretary (Mr C. F. Shapcott) said that a letter had been written to the Director of National Service by the Captain of the Cobden Fire Brigade, suggesting that reservist’s training be deferred as he was a member of the Brigade, 'and lived next door to the fire station. Thomas Gilmour, captain of the Brigade, said that Skeats had been a member of the Brigade for the past six months. No member slept at the station, but Skeats lived next door, and also drove the engine, for which fie had a certificate. He had replaced a man who had gone overseas. Cross-examined, witness said that if reservist were taken away, ne supposed the Brigade would have to make some other arrangement. There were three or four others in the Brigade who could drive the engine, but the trouble was to get a man who lived near the station. The appeal was dismissed. An application for a re-hearing in the appeal of Margaret Annie Tucker for Joseph Patrick Tucker, farmer, on the grounds of undue hardship, and public interest, was granted. Mr E. B. E. Taylor appeared for the appellant, and asked that obligations be postponed till February, 1942. . Reservist put in a written statement. Mr Taylor added that for five and a-half years he had been getting a ratfier rough piece of land in order at Taylorville, and now had 250 sheep on tfie property. The lambing season had just started, and he was unable to get anyone to help on the farm while he was away doing his training. His busy season would be over by the end of February. Cross-examined by Mr Shapcott, reservist said that his main object in asking for a postponement was so that he could get the lambing season over and the cropping and haymaking done. Little help was available from his father and brother. Decision was reserved. In the case of the appeals lor William Docherty, projectionist and bus driver, by the State Miners’ Hall Committee, and C. R. Wylde, Mr W D. Taylor put in a written statement from Wylde who had been called away to Christchurch. He added that the ‘State Miners’ Hall Committee based their appeal on the fact that they were unable to get anyone to replace the reservist. They had had three replies to advertisements in Greymouth, Christchurch, and Wellington, but two of these had declined to take the job, and though the third one had in the first place accepted, he had later advised the Committee that he had secured a permanent appointment and would, therefore, not be able to take the position. He put in a letter in which the man concerned declined the job. Tire Cinematograph Operators’ Licensing Board had also advised that it could not suggest anyone to fill the place for three months. James Gillaly, secretary of the Committee, gave evidence on the lines of Mr Taylor’s statement, and said that reservist had been on the jofi for 16 years, and was 33 years of age. The appeal was adjourned sine die. Higgins Bros’ appealed on the ground of undue hardship and public interest in the case of George Raymond Watson, pig farmer. Appellants were represented by Mr W. ■p. Taylor. Edward Paul Higgins, a member or the firm, said that reservist had been employed on the job for six months, and was 19 years of age. He put in a written statement. To Mr Panther, witness said- that reservist could attend night parades of the Home Guard, but not Sunday parades. He had endeavoured to get a man to replace the reservist, but had been unable to get one. Service obligations were postponed until January 1, lor review. When the appeal by Edward McDonnell for Thomas Patrick O’Donnell, storeman, was called, the Secretary said that appellant did not intend to proceed, and the appeal was accordingly struck out. APPEALS FOR APPRENTICES.

The Dispatch Foundry Company, Ltd., appealed on the ground of public interest, for Robert Oliver Cooper and Jack Critchley, apprentice engineers. Mr W. P. Hambleton, manager of the company, said that he had 13 or 14 apprentices in various departments, and that the two appealed for were pot the only ones the company was likely to lose, as three other apprentices had been accepted for the Air Force, and were likely to be called up at any time. He could not afford to lose them all. He had had no assistance whatever from the Labour Department in his efforts to secure more apprentices. In reply to the Secretary, witness said he had not been employing apprentices on labourers’ work. There would be no room for confusion in the work of labourers and apprentices, and he denied emphatically that he had been employing apprentices as suggested. To the Chairman, witness said he could do without the reservists for three months as long as the Air Force men were not away at the same time. The appeals were dismissed, subject to the Air Force men not being called up before the reservists . returned from camp. , Melvin George Sheldon, cycle dealer, appealed on the ground of undue hardship. Hfe was represented by Mr W. D. Taylor, who said that reservist asked for a postponement until February of next year to enable him to get over the busy months, and also to have his business m such a state that he would be free of worry when he went to camp. Appellant put in a written statement. . , , . The Secretary said that the reservist had been graded imfit tor overseas service, but fit for territorial camp. , Service obligations were postponed until the end of February, 1942. . The appeal bv the Ngahere Gold Dredging, Ltd., in the case of John Boyle Honey, winchman, was dismissed. The Secretary said„ he had had a communication from the manager of the company, stating that he had made arangements for the replacement of the reservist. The State- Coal Mines Department appealed on the ground of public interest for Charles Edward Stephen, labourer. ~ J The Secretary said that the manager of the mine was unable to be present, but had put in a written statement, in which he stated the reservist was employed on repair work on the road leading to the Strongman mine, and had been employed tfiere since May 8,1909, and prior to that had had experience m mines in the North Island. Mr McLean: They should have put him on the coal in the meantime. Decision was reserved. - Brunner Collieries, Ltd., appealed on tfie ground of public interest for Alan Reid, rope road worker. The Secretary stated that reservist .was 19 years of age. The manager, in a letter, said that reservist had been employed at the mine only since January, 1941, but was an excellent worker. Prior to that he had been employed on a poultry farm in Christ-

church. The manager had added tfiat there was no doubt that reservist would be temporarily, if not permanently unfit (he has not been medically examined) as on, account of an accident in his youth he had one leg shorter than the other. The appeal was dismissed. William Henry Shand, seaman, appealed on the ground of public interest. The Secretary said that the Shipowners’ Federation supported the appeal. Mr S. J. Davis, manager of the Union Company, at Greymouth, said he had been instructed to support the appeal on behalf of reservists’ employers. He was a bona fide seaman. The appeal was adjourned sine die. Frederick James Douglas, seaman, employed by the Union Company, appealed on the ground of public interest. The Secretary said that the aopeal was supported by the Company and by the Federation. He had also seen the father of the reservist, and had been informed that reservist had left school only last year, and had taken a temporary position with the P. and T. Department, while waiting his opportunity to go to sea. He fiad been at sea only four months. The appeal was adjourned sine die. DIRECTOR’S APPEALS.

The Director of National Service appealed on the ground of public interest for Douglas Watt, Post and Telegraph employee. The Secretary said that in fiis letter the Director stated that reservist was attending the telegraph training school, and that it was desired that his military training should be postponed for six months while he completed his training at the school. The Area Officer would be advised when the reservist would be ready to enter camp. Service obligations were postponed for six months. , The Director of National Service appealed on the ground of public interest f<?r Kenneth Hemmgson, mental hospital attendant. The Secretary said that reservist was an attendant at the Mental Hospital at Hokitika. He had been graded unfit for overseas service, and the Director stated that he could not spare the reservist without jeopardising the efficiency of the hospital. Leave had been given for 10 men to go overseas, and lor seven to do territorial training, and the staffing position at Hokitika was, therefore, difficult. He asked that service obligations be postponed indefinitely. The appeal was adjourned sine die, with a recommendation that he join the Department’s E.P.S. The Director of National Service appealed for a postponement of obligations in the case of Eric James Hansen, clerk, in the State Mmes office, at Dunollie. The Secretary said that the Director stated that two clerks, Murray and Hansen, had been called in the same ballot, and he desired that Hansen’s training be postponed until tfie other reservist returned from camp. The two could not be away at the same time without serious inconvenience. Service obligations were postponed for three months. The Director of National Service appealed on the ground of public interest in the case of Frederick Thomas Lonie, tablet porter, at Kaiata, asking that the appeal be adjourned sine die. The Secretary stated that the reservist had been turned down lor overseas service, but had been graded fit for territorial camp. The Director stated that in the event of an emergency in New Zealand, and a general mobilisation, the reservist would be essential to the Railways Department. The appeal was adjourned sme die. subject to reservist joining the Hanway E.P.S. , _ The Director of National Service appealed on the ground of public interest in the case of John Dems Moran, clerk, Railways Departmenu, Westport. The Secretary said it was a similar case to the last one, and tne Director suggested a sme die adjournment, as in the case of general mobilisation, reservist’s services would be essential to his Department. Mr McLean said it seemed strange that a sine d*e adjournment should be asked for. The man seemed to be only an ordinary clerk, and private employers had to do the best they could in such cases.. The appeal was adjourned sme die, subject to reservist joining the Railway E.P.S. A FARM LABOURER. Charles Holm, farmer, Hohonu, appealed on the ground of public interest in the case of Terence Edgar Holm, farm labourer. In evidence, appellant said that he had a dairy farm at Hohonu, anti

milked 50 cows. He and the reservist were the only men on the farip. He asked for a postponement of service until the Winter, when he thought he could spare the reservist as the cows would be out. He had tried to get a man to replace him, but had not been successful. One of his sons was overseas. He and another man had been on the farm, but now the place was worked by witness and the reservist. It was a farm of 500 acres. Arthur Denis Mercer, Fields Instructor, Department of Agriculture, Greymouth, said he could, support the evidence of the previous witness, and he thought appellant was modest in asking that service be postoned only until March next. It was practically impossible to get anyone to go out to Hohonu, and work there; The appeal was adjourned, and will be reviewed on May 31, 1942.