SERVICE APPEALS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20601, 31 October 1941, Page 8

SERVICE APPEALS

■ TERRITORIAL UNITS ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES MAN-POWER COMMITTEE Two volunteers for overseas service, three men listed for duty with the Guards of Vita) Points, and a number of Territorial reservists were concerned in appeals heard by the Gisborne District Man-power' Committee yesterday. Only one of the reservists appealed on his own account.

The committee comprised Messrs. F. R. Ball, chairman, C. E. Bickford, and A. T. Webber, the last named substituting l'or Mr. J. E. Benson, a regular member of the committee.

Norman L. Kane, storekeeper, was appealed for by T. Corson and Son (Mr. L. T. Burnard), his employers. The reservist was called for the Territorial cadre, and Captain E. R. Black, assistant area officer, stated that Kane was a sergeant in his unit and therefore had substantial responsibilities. The iron for cadre training, added Captain Black, had been carefahy selected and were required for duties euivalent to overseas service.

Mr. L. T. Burnard pointed out that the appellants’ business required a certain number of adaptable young men and had recently lost two experienced men. Kane was chiefly required for handling fruit distribution, for which he had special training and which was of importance to the primary producers. Kane had been employed by the appellants since September 1. Evidence on the lines of counsel’s statement was placed before the ccmmittee, which was informed that it was impossible to replace Kane with a suitable man.

The appeal was dismissed. Reservations Reviewed

M. D. Ericksen. farm hand, was appealed for by D. Mills (Mr. L. C. Parker), his employer. The reservist was said to be one of two men working on a large dairy farm with a substantial amount of cropping. The appellant asked that the reservist be allowed to complete his Territorial training in the first quarter of next year. —The appeal was adjourned until December, for information concerning camp intake schedules. The appeal of the Poverty Bay Electric-Power Board in respect of J. M. Smeaton, salesman, came up for review, the appeal having originally been dealt with in April last. The evidence showed that the reservist’s services to the board included much more than sales of electric appliances, especially in regard to new installations. His qualifications made him irreplaceable, at short notice. — The appeal was adjourned sine die. Another appeal, adjourned in April and now called on for review, was that of the Okitu Darny Company, Limited, for exemption for D. J. Moran, dairy factory worker. The chairman of the company, Mr. E. H. Baker, said that Moran was first assistant in the factory, and was the only man who could relieve the manager, having the necessary qualifications. The company was entering the pasteurised milk business, and this would involve all-year-round working at the factory.—The appeal was adjourned sine die. Te Rua Herivel, farmer, applied for a further adjournment of his appeal, dealt with in April. The appeal was on grounds of hardship and public interest, and the reservist stated that the circumstances of his case had not changed since the last hearing.—A further adjournment, sine die, was granted. Station Owners’ Appeals

F. R. Olding, shepherd, was appealed for by his employer, B. J. Holdsworth, who stated that Olding was essential in his present employment, and would be less usefully employed on the duration service for which he was called. Olding was a Home Guardsman, and doing good work as an N.C.-O. —A sine die adjournment was granted. The appeal in respect of W. B. Veitch, station manager, by his employer, W. T. Veitch, was called for review, having been adjourned since April last. The reservist was an army volunteer, who did not elect to withdraw his voluntary enlistment. The appellant stated that he was reluctant to apeal, but it was a question whether the reservist’s services were more useful on the farm or in the army.—The appeal was adjourned sine die. A further case for review was that of Harris Bros, for A. J. Lyons, head shepherd. The reservist appeared before the committee, which was informed that Lyons was now not employed in his former occupation. He stated that he still had his horses and dogs, and had left his employment- to take medical advice on a bad throat. He had work offered him, but was not prepared to take it until he knew how he stood in respect of military service. He was 44 years of age and had served two years in the last war—The committee adjourned decision on the appeal for one month, meanwhile advising the reservist to take a permanent position if it were available. Key Man with Thresher

An appeal was lodged by A. J. Barber (Mr, E. T. Brosnahan) against the calling-up of C. Watson, farm labourer, for duration home-defence duties. The appellant, a threshingmill proprietor, stated that the reservist was a key man in his gang,

which undertook general agricultural contracting He could spare Watson from April to June, for Territorial training, but required his services for the remainder of the year.—The committee dismissed the appeal, subject to the reservist not being liable for duration service, with a direction that the reservist be called for Territorial services between April 1 and June 30. The voluntary enlistment of J. McTavish, head shepherd on Te Wera station, was the subject of an appeal by the station manager. F. Sinton. It was stated that, apart from McTavish, the station had only one other shepherd. The reservist was stated to be keen to serve overseas, but if reserved owing to his occupation, desired an exemption for a fixed term, say to June 30, 1942. He was training with the Home Guard, as commander of the Matawai platoon.—The chairman pointed out that McTavish was one of the few of the old reserved volunteer group who had not been released for overseas service. The difficulty was that if he were released now he might not be called up straight away. —The committee adjourned the appeal sine die, and the volunteer was given an indication that he would be given adequate time to dispose of horses and dogs if it were decided later to release him for service, Adair Bros.. Limited, appealed for an extension of the release of W. J. Owen from Guards of Vital Points duty. It was stated that the firm had recently lost two members of its staff, and would be placed under a hardship if it lost the services of Owen at present. His services were really required until after Christmas. —The committee decided to recommend an extension of three months. The Director of National Service appealed for a postponement of service by D. McG. Campbell, a farm manager under the Native Department, until March 30, 1942. —The appeal was dismissed, subject to the reservist not being called before the date specified. The committee received a request from J. W. Race for a re-hearing of C. W. Izod's appeal, recently dealt I with. Race was stated to be an electrical apprentice in the employ of the appellant, and objected to a postponement of his entry into the Air Force, granted by the committee. —It was agreed to hear the appeal again at the next meeting of the committee, on November 6.