ARMED FORCES BOARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 September 1943, Page 2

ARMED FORCES BOARD

SITTING AT GREYMOUTH

Mr. W. Meldrum, with him Messrs. P. J. McLean and A. Panther, presided at a sitting of the Armed Forces Appeal Board at Greymouth yesterday afternoon. Mr. C. F. Shapcott was Secretary. The following appeals were dealt with (all reservists being Grade 1): — . , . Bellvue Mines Ltd., appealed for leave to adopt an appeal of the State Mines Department for T. L. Nash and V. Sweeney, colliers. —Leave granted and appeals adjourned sine die. Hunter and Party appealed lor leave to adopt the appeal of Moore and Party for H. Hadcroft, miner and manager.’—Leave granted and adiourned sine die. • “ Stuart and Party’s application for leave to adopt the appeal of Grey Valley Collieries for J. D. Ross, miner, was granted, and the appeal was adjourned sine die. Moore and Party applied for leave 10 adopt an appeal by Pyramid Coal Mines, Reefton, for R. S. Chandler, manager and underviewer. —Leave granted and the appeal adjourned sine die. ' j J ~,r • The State Mines Department (Mr. I Adamson) applied for leave to adopt the appeal of the Geophysical Survey Department for J. A. Forrest, shiftman. —Leave granted and appeal adjourned sine die. Other appeals by the State Mines were dealt with as follow: —J. J. Queen, shiftman. —Adjourned sine die. James H. Phillips, miner, leave to adopt the appeal ol Pyramid Coal Mines. —Adjourned since die. In the case of an application by F. W. Ronchi, described as a shiftman, for release from camp, on the ground that he was an experienced miner, Mr. A. Smith, manager of the Liverpool State Mine, stated that, reservist approached him and asked if he could place him in the mine if he were released from camp. He (Mr. Smith) had said that he could place him provided he was an experienced mine worker, which Ronchi stated he was. However, since then he (Mr. Smith) had found out that before he went into camp Ronchi was a butcher and that he had apparently been a butcher for some years. Therefore, he did not wish to support the application. He had had too many men without experience.—The application was declined. The appeal of the State Coal Mines for R. J. Williams, winchman, was adjourned sine die. Mr. Shapcott stated’ that the Army had asked that the appeal bo decided on merit, as when 11 was first heard, in June, 1941, when reservist was employed by the New Forest Sawmilling Coy., it was adjourned on medical grounds, reservist then being Grade 3. He had been emu loved in the mine practically since the appeal was first heard. State Coal Mines applied for the continued release from camp of J. M. Jefferies, trucker. It was stated that reservist, now 20 years of age, was released from camp in August, 1942. to work as a labourer for' a bricklayer at Runanga. When that work was finished, in March, 1943, he secured employment at the State mine as a trucker. In April the Board heard the application of the State Mines Department for the continuation of reservist’s release and the Railways Department, by which he was employed prior to his entering camp, objected to his being released for the mine, contending that if reservist was to be released lie should be returned io the Railways Department. The Board at that hearing declined the application tor further release. Reservist was Grade 1, single, and would be 21 years of age in December next. Mr. A. Smith (manager of the Liverpool mine) said that at the previous hearing reservist had had only a month’s experience, but he had now had six months’ experience and was quite as good a man as some who krill been' in the mine for four or tivc- years.

The application was declined. Appeals i’i regard lu A. G. Favel. miner, L. Walton, rope-road worker, :;nd G. Vincent, tipper, by the State Coal Mines (Mt. B. F. Lockington) were withdrawn. Mr. Lockington stated that all three men were keen m enter the forces, and he found that the mine would not be unduly embarrassed by their leaving', us he was fairly well supplied with Truckers at uresent.

Mr. R. Scutl (for the Union) offered no objection. In the appeal of the West Coast Sawmillers' .Association for _T. A. Ciimo, bushrnun. Hie timber advisory committee rficommended chat lie be made available for posting to the-, Armed forces, it was stated that Ciimo mimed to be directed to any particular mill, and that there had been repeated instances of absenteeism.—Adjourned till next sitting to cne.bie Ciimo to be present.

the appeal of the West Coast Cawmillers’ Association for J. L. Maitland, mill builder, Mr. F. J. Perham (Conservator of State Forests) stated that the mill Mailland had been building was completed and Maitland was engaged in cutting limber tor the mill buildings to house the men when the mill was in production.

Mr. F. L. Turley (secretary of. the Westland Timber Workers’ Union) said the accommodation had to be built before the men would •go on the job. The appeal was adjourned for three months for review.

The West Coast Sawmillers’ Association appealed for N. A. Dellow (employed by Stuart and Chapman at Ross), clerk, on review.—Adjourned sine die.

Application for release from Air Force Service of -.1. D. Stuart, bush manager (by West Coast Sawmillers’ Association). It was stated that he was required as a bush manager for Kanieri Sawmills. —The appeal was supported_by Messrs Robertson, Perham and Turley. Mr. Shapcott said he had received a telegram from the Air Force opposing the application as Stuart was a Sergeant Observer employed on living duties. ’ ft was decided to recommend the release of reservist.

The West Coast Sawmillers’ Association’s appeals for the release from camp oi' the following other mon were recommended:—J. A. E. Scott, bushman (lor Ogilvie and Co.); I. J. McLoud. bushman (Stratford, Blair and Co.); and G. Becker, bushman (Ahiaura Sawmills), who has returned on compassionate leave from overseas and was leading bushman for Three years prior io his going over-

The Association’s application for leave to adopt the appeal of a fiddler and breakerdown, D. .1, Wallace, employed by Stratlord and Blair, and formerly working in a mine, .which employment he recently left with the permission of the Manpower Officer, was granted and the appeal was adjourned sine die.

Wild and Robertson appealed for the postponement of Navy service of A. I*'. Laing, aged 18 years, clerk. It was stated that he had volunteered for the Navy and had been called up for service. Mr. J. S-. Robertson stated that he had three males and two females employed and was three short of a full staff.—Dismissed subject to service being postponed until November 15.