SERVICE APPEALS

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 September 1944, Page 6

SERVICE APPEALS

CONCLUDING CASES The Armed Forces Appeal Board concluded its sitting at Greymouth yesterday afternoon, Mr. W. Meldrum presiding with Messrs A. Panther and P. J. O’Regan. Mr. G. G. M. Mitchell represented the Crown. Reservists are Grade 1 and single except where otherwise indicated. , The Railways Department (Mr. J.' Binstead) appealed for J. W. McFar- i lane, lifter. Reservist objected to his retention, saying he did not think; his job was sufficiently essential to ; keep him out of the Forces. He work- j ed a 44-houi - week at Stillwater, • and; did not have assistance. The job held no prospects. I To Mr. Binsted: He had worked 48- . hour weeks when doing country ■ wol ’k- , . . , . , i Mr. Binsted, m evidence, said re- ) servist was semi-skilled and had ; been employed since 1939, and his duties included travelling to country j stations. He could not be replaced by i an unskilled man, but witness agreed , the job did not have a great future. The Department was short of that type of employee. Appeal dismissed, obligation to serve being postponed for one month. The Public Works Department (Mr. E. F. Evans) appealed for W. C. Burr, baker. Mr. Evans said reservist was employed at Jackson’s Bay, and baked at least twice a week. He had to prepare his own fuel. —Adjourned sine die. The Grey Hospital Board (Mr. J. E. A. McKeefry) appealed for H. T. Thompson, house surgeon. Mr. McKeefry said reservist’had been in the Board’s employ for nearly 12 months. His services were definitely required. —Adjourned sine die. . L. A. Ilton, farmer, appealed on his own behalf. He had recently taken the lease of a farm at Rotomanu, and the Primary Production Council supported his appeal.—Adjourned sme i die J. E. Henderson, hotel proprietor, married, 3 children, lodged his own appeal. He said he was the proprietor of the Blackball Hotel, having had to leave coal mine work because of coal dust affecting his eyes. He had seven permanent boarders. —Adjourned sme die. Griffin and Smith, Ltd., (Mr. C. R. McGinley) appealed for H. G. Weaver, lorry driver, married, two children. Errol Smith, secretary, said difficulty had been experienced in retaining drivers because of the heavy nature of the work—Adjourned sine die. APPEALS FOR MECHANICS Mrs. I. McGlashan (Mr. W. D. Taylor) appealed for J. Clark, motor mechanic, Grade 81, and I. H. Innes, clerk, seeking the release of the former from the Air Force. Appellant said Clark had been with the firm for a year before going into camp in 1941. There was only one mechanic employed, with an assistant, compared with four before the war, and the work was too much for one mechanic. Thirty-seven trucks and buses, 10 other commercial vehicles and two tractors were serviced. Innes had been employed for three years and was indispensable, performing a big variety of work. —Clark’s release was recommended and the appeal for Innes adjourned sine die. Grey Motors appealed ior H. D. Ashhurst, mechanic. Mr G. Sansom, accountant, said reservist had been employed since 1941. There were five mechanics employed compared with 15 in 1939 and four apprentices compared with nine. Reservist was the senior apprentice and should finish his time in 18 months.—Adjourned sine die. Kennedy Bros. (Mr McGinley) appealed for W. M. Hibbs, bus driver, Grade 2, married, three children. ,W. Kennedy, manager, said reservist was first employed in 1941. The bus services had had to be curtailed, and in the public interest could not be reduced.—Adjourned sine die. M. McDonnell appealed for H. J. McDonnell, traveller. Mr McGinley asked that reservist be not called up before January. Mr Mitthell said that reservist was one of the group selected for the Air Force. The case had been adjourned three months to enable the firm to re-arrange its staff. The case was adjourned to the next sitting. E. Flood, hairdresser (Mr McGinley) appealed on his own behalf foi* release from the Air Force. —Withdrawn, appellant having been released. Associated Gold Dredges (Mr W. D. Taylor) appealed for S. W. Gillman, dredge hand. G. Cuff, engineer, said Gillman had for six weeks been employed on contract clearing ahead of the Atarau dredge. The gang had only four men instead of six. Owing to illness, reservist could not be spared.—Adjourned sine die. T. H. Gieen sought the release from ;he Air Force of S. C. Cropp, carpener, married, three children. Mr A. Jamieson said appellant was enaged in house construction. The rm at present employed 14 carpeners.—Release recommended.

A. Baty (Mr Taylor) appealed for .he release of E. E. Baty, W.A.A.C., Tom the Army. He stated he was a farmer residing at Coal Creek. His daughter had been in the Forces for two years. There were eight in the household, and the work was too much for his wife, who would also be required to enter hospital for treatment. Reservist was willing to return home. —Release recommended, subject to reservist’s consent being forthcoming. R. McKenzie (Mr Taylor) sought the release from the Air. Force of H. C. McKenzie, car painter, Grade 2, married. Appellant stated that he had more work than he could handle in a seven-day, 70-hour week. He was anxious to have his brother back, there being far too much work "or one man. Appellant had to enter hospital to have" his teeth extracted (certificate produced). His brother did not know the appeal was being lodged.—Release recommended.