APPEALS FOR MINERS

Grey River Argus, 18 July 1941, Page 8

APPEALS FOR MINERS

75 HEARD YESTERDAY By Armed Forces Board QUESTION OF MARRIED MEN'S l>allu l a. Of the 88 appea.s dealt w.th at yesteruays s.it.ng u± me aimed r.orces .appeal t>o.,rd ae 7u were iur men connected wan me cua. mmuig industry, *±o or w.imu were empioyeu uy me btaie Mmes Department. Must or me appeals were amounted sme die, bui dec s.uii..were reserved in some cases wne.e the reservists nad recently ente-va the industry. Commenting on the adjourning or apoeais sine cue, me chairman of the Hoard (Mr F. ij’. Reid, S.ivi.) Said (turmg yesterdays sitting that he wished to take the opportunity ot pointing out that shortly married men would be called up in ballots and tne question would tnen be whether single men would be per-' mitted to stay when married men had to so to camp. Th.s queston, he added, was of considerable importance. “The tact that appeals are adjourned sine- de must not be taken for granted as an exemption or complete exemption from military service," he said. “A great number of these appeals will be called up for review before married men are required to go into camp.’’ Associated with Mr Reid were Messrs A. H. McKane and G. M. Hall. Mr W. F. Tracy' represented the Crown. The State Mines Superintendent (Mr C. J. Strongman) appealed on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship for the following employees: Ernest Pomeroy, trucker, Abraham Airns. miner since 1926; Francis Anderson, shiftman since January, 1940, Robert Bell, trucker since April 1940; William Leo Baird, trucker since September, 1940; Douglas Robert John Blocksage, trucker since July 1939; Colin lan Cottle, trucker since May, 1940; Ralph Craig, assistant rope splicer since April. 194U’ Bruce Dargan, trucker since July, 1940; Wm. Francis Dalzell. coTip" since May, 1937; Harold Samue: Dempster, trucker since June, 1939’ Herbert Karl Fisher, miner on the coal face, John Glass trucker, since February, 1937; Douglas Eric Hilda brand, lamp attendant since leaving school: l~rael Eric James, trucker since 1937; Gilbert Norman Johnson, trucker and driver since October. 1940; Edward Lloyd Jones, coal cutting machine operator, since April. 1940; Charles Henry Kennedy, experienced miner; Richard James Me Namara, trucker since 1939; Richard Edward Maddison, experienced miner; William Colin Mundy, collier since September, 1939; George Arthur Murphy, miner since 1939; John Musgrove, trucker since August, 1940; Thomas Leo Nicholson, miner since 1927; Charles Leo O’Donnell, trucker since 1939; Stanley Gordon Olderog, experienced shiftman; Gordon Richard Ranchi, shiftman and experienced tunneller; Eugene O’Su.livan. shiftman since July, 19-10; Albert James Smith, miner since 1927; Norman Speakman, trucker s nee 1930; John Nancolas Swarbrieic, tunneller since January, 1941; John Timlin, miner since 1927; Bertram Walker, experienced lamp cleaner; Benjamin Watkin, trucker since December, 1940; Robert Watson, trucker since 1937; Walter James Weston, shiftman since 1939; Robert Wright experienced miner; James Airns, miner for the oast two years; David Reginald Williams, electrician in the James Mine for 15 years.

Abraham Isaac Tyson, underviewer, Liverpool Colliery, gave evidence as to the length of employment of each reservist. He said that G. N Johnson had not been work ng for four months owing to illness. O'Sul.’ivan had experience in the North Island. Percy Mostyn Outhwaite, manager of Strongman Collierv, gave evidence as to the men from that mine appealed for. Pomeroy had onlv keen a few days at the mine when the appeal was made. He then left for Wallsend, but returned to James Mine on June 11. and was still working there. “In each case for some reason the Superintendent has seen lit to appeal on tne grounds .of public interest and undue hardship. Appeals on the grounds of undue hardship simply pile up the work or the National Service Deartment and the Beard’s Secretary. Undue- hardship simply does not exist and all the appeals on that ground will be struck out,” said the Chairman. The appeal for G. N. Johnson was dismissed, reservist not havin'* been at the mine for four months, whilst the Board adjourned sine die all other appeals except those for Dargan, Watk.n and 'Baird. An appeal, by the Super.ntendent of State Mines for Joseph Green on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship was withdrawn by the Department, as he had left their employ. Mr W. D. Taylor, for Green, supported the appeal and calleu Green, who, in evidence, stated that he was a partner in a co-operative contract. There was a definite output taken by McClatchies as well as a local market. The appeal, adopted bv reservist, was adjourned sine die on the i grounds of public interest. I ' Marshall and Part/ appealed on the grounds of public interest for Danie.' Cameron, miner. George Walker, secretary to the Party, said ther P were three members including himself and Cameron. Cameron had been a partner since 1934, and had worked there ever since. / , . , The appeal was adjourned sine a e. G. McClatchie and Co., Ltd. (Mr A. M. Jamieson) annealed for Gecrg o Allan Turner on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship. The appeal was adjourned sine d e cn th grounds of public interest. 'Grey Valiev Collieries, Ltd. appealed on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship for the following emloyees: Robert Marshall, mine manager; Michael Banks, haulage attendant for 11 years; Allan Wright Ducker, trucker jig runner for two years; Brian Johnstone, trucker for n’ne months; Vivian Smith, trucker fo r live months; Les : lie Thomas Cron, jig runner ana winch driver for two year?; George Erskine, haulage attendant for four years; James Ferguson Gibb, mine) for 12 vears; Alfred Hoggarth, winch driver and fitter for 12 years; Thomas George Morgan, miner employed for six years: John White, miner for 11 years. , T -> > Robert Marshall, manager of Dobcon Mine, gave evidence as to the exper ence of each man There were nearly 200 men at the m : ne Johnstons was formerly employed farm ng. in Auckland Smith was former y engaged on gold dredge work. . , On the grounds of public interest the appeals were adjourned sine die, except those for Smith and Jomstone, which were reserved. Douglas Hugh Williams, timber cutter and miner, and Wi’ham Preen bushmm. _ annealed on tn grounds of public interest. Wil'iams and Preen were ren-'“-sented bv Mr J. K. Patter on. _ Wi Hams sa'd that in ren v to adve t • • rnents be h”d received two. He answered both, but received no further replies. The party had supplied

56 trucks of mining timber to the State Mines since the last hearing. They were not aoie to lili an uiu orders. Since the last hear.ng, they had to employ additional labour, but the only, man they could secure was shortly entering tlie Territorial Camp r-’. M. Outhwaite, manager of the Strongman State Mine, said L<>.t limber stocks had been b410,v a satisfactory level until the week-end, when a stock had come to hand. Trey could carry a fortnight’s stock under ordinary conditions. One other parly contracted for timber. The Chairman said th e Board was sat.siied with the evidence, and that given at the previous sitting, and the appeals were adjourned sine die. The Director of National Serving appealed for Robert Rpss, a coal miner employed at the Dotson Mine, cn the grounds of public inte.est. Mr Tracy said that Ross was work ing on the coal. The appeal was adjourned sue d.e. • The Director of National Ser.w-.-appealed for Arthur Joseph Gray, carpenter employed by the BlacKb.i, Coal Co., on the grounds of public interest. John G. Quinn, manager of tin? mine, said Gray had been 11 years with the Company. Carpenters were difficult to get, none being ava.ia.Ai. 1 at present. He knew of none on re lief works. To Mr Reid: The Company ha. : made no appeals, but the mine had been taken over by the State, am.: th? position was now cleared up. To Mr Hall: His father was a carpenter at the mine before reservist. The appeal wa« adl?urned s ne die on the grounds or public interest. Th P ".noeal ur Grev Va ley Col lierles Dtd. for David Cowan was transferred to ho. 2 Appeal Boar;;, owing to reservist being in the Waikato district. Donald. Be’.l appealed for his partner, John Arthur Bourke, mner an I driver, on the grounds of public m terest and undue hardsh p Buurk-. also appealed, J/ell. in evidence, tai., that he was manager for the Castle point Co-operative- Party, which employed seven men. The mine iia. operated over lb vears and Bourke had been at the mine I’3 years, ana was a miner working on toe icice, a.well as drwing a horse On the grounds of public interest tne appeal was adjourned sme uie. The reservist’s own appeal wastruck out. Tne Board, tne cha.rmmi said, did not particularly approve ot appea.s by individual miners Blackball Creek Cuai CO. appeale.i on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship for William Sten man Balderstonn William Balaerstone, manager ol the mine, and father of reservist, said that the latter was aged 25 years, and was a coal m ner who had worked 44 years on the coal face There were 20 men employed at the mine. Th P appeal was adjourned sine dm on the grounds of public interest ■ Brunner Collieries Ltd. appe-ale on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship for- the following. Eric Francis James Streat. a trucker since November, 1940; John Hendry, miner since May, 1938; Robert Ross Thomas John Uren. miner s nee May, 1939; Thomas Gordon Julian, bin worker since 1935; Kelvin John Falconer, trucker since February, 1941. Francis Edward Lockington, _ manager of the Wallsend Mine, said the Company withdrew the appeal for Ross, for whom the Director of N:v tional Service appea'ed. Falconer had previously been a barman in Hokitika, and was married. He had worked for a short time at Dobson before coming to Wallsend. He- understood Ross was working at Dobson. The appeals of Hendry, Uren and Julian were adjourned s’ne die on the grounds of public interest on’yThe appeals of Falconer and Streat were reserved. The Paoaroa Coal Co . Ltd. annealed on the rromids of n U bl : c inte’est for Percival Ernest Edward B" Ip” miner for three- vears: Wi’snn CItR Me’kle. shiftman for three years’ James Patrick O’Donnell, hydraulic brake driver: Jaurie Lawden Climn miner for 10 -years’ Andrew Lc't'U miner for 10 vears; .lames Pirrie Clark, miner for 18 months Alphonsus O’Donnell, mme manager, asked that the anneal for J. P O’Donnell be withdrawn and the re nuest was Clark came from Blackball Mme to Ro?. The anneals, except that, fn” O’Donnell, were adjourned sine die. BOARD NOT SATISFIED. Stewart and Party (Mr J. W. Hannan ) appealed lor Herbert Martin Stewart miner, on the grounds of public- interest and undue- haruship Stewart .a’.so ai/peareu Norman Croad Crowe, manager for Stewart, and Party, said that there were two partners Lyell Stewart and Albert Stewart, reservist bemg a brother Oi the former Reservist went to the mine on September 4, 1940, previous ly being employed as a lorry driver bv Griffen and Smith, who disperse.! with his services. Prior to working theie he had mining experience, bein ~ employed at Rewanui To Mr Tracy: He had two months at Rewanui.

To Mr Hall: Reservist gave a hand on the coal. Stewart in evidence said when he appealed he did not know his employers had also done so. To Mr Reid: Think carefully. Did you know or not? —Yes. Why didn’t you say., so before?- I forgot. Asked bv Mr Reid the grounds for undue hardship, Stewart sakl h.s mother was at home and not able i.o look after herself. He had two s sters and two brothers at home. Oiu sister was 21, and onp 16, thibrothers being 14 and 11. Hi mother was a pensioner and witness helped her. To Mr Tracy: He was 23. Ha worked for Griffen and Smith for 18 months and Greenhill’s for six months. Previously he had two months at Strongman Mine trucking. Before going back to the mine, he tried to get work on dredges, but could not do so. His wages averaged £ll to £l2 a fortnight. To Mr McKane: He went on compensation when he left the State Mine. He had then gone to Moore and Party’s mine. “The Board has not the slightest hesitation in dismissing reservist’s own appeal on both grounds,” said Mr Reid On the grounds of undue hardship, the employers’ apnea! was di-missed After an adjournment Mr Reid said that the Board was far from satisfied with the reservist’s evidence, and if the appeal rested on it thev would have dismissed it without hesitation K Stewart were taken now. the 1 Party might be prejudiced. The anneal would therefore be adjourned to the .next sitting, when the Board would reauire to bo satisfied that every possible channel had been exhausted to get a man to replace reservist G. H. Gaskell (Boote and Pai t v) annea’ed on the grounds of publ’c interest for William Patrick C"se - miner. Robert Tavlor. secretary of the Partv. said there were seven partners. Casev had worked twe’ve months for tho Party. Previously he was at Liverpool Mine On the of nuhlic interest, the anneal was adjourned sine da* FARMERS’ .APPEALS. The Estate of Wm. Bruce and the District Public Truste- (Mr W. Kan") appealed for Wallace Bruce and W 1liam Cameron Bruce, farmers, on the grounds of undue hardship and nubile interest. Evidence was given by

Mr Kane who said the propertv comprised 61S acres on which ther- were about 500 sheep, including 4UO eweo. They expected to milk 42 cows th. l season. Butter fat was ove r B • per cow. The gross takings off u*iproperty were about £l2OO a vear. William Clayton, ol Ahaura, sair. he had 30 years’ exper.ence as a farmer He knew the Bruce farm well It was a difficult property. be ing close to the river and subject to floods It was a full-time job for the sons, who were very good and were improving the farm - J ,Y; did not think one son could do tin work. It was impossible to gc<. experienced men, as he had experienced even after advertising in canterbury. ~ To Mr Reid: There was ready no off-season, but it could possibly be arranged for the younger man to do Territorial training. However, there was a very efficient Home Guard m Ahaura, and both men attended regularly , „ Neil Brodie McCallum, manager of Dalgety and Co., Ltd. said his firm controlled the finances of the, farm. He corroborated Mr Claytons evidence as to the farm The Chairman said the Board w«s satisfied the farm required two men. Both appeals were adjourned sine die. Mrs M. A. O’Brien (Mr W. D. laylor) appealed on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship lor Ernest James Lewis O Brien. Mis O’Brien in evidence said she had hacl the farm for 20 A m al ’ ri ed son lived at home. Reservist imd worked full-time on the farm tor nine or ten years. fine property comprised 600 acres, of which were cleared. There was a certain amount of stumping to be' clone on th_rest of the land. To Mr Tracy: There were e-gnt sons, four being sing.e. One aget. 40 worked in the district, one naci been in the sawmill at Rtnu, and the other was an upnolsterer in Greymouth. To Mr Heid: Reservist never worked off the farm at all. He never worked at the mill. To Mr McKane: Three sons had been called up for service William Clayton supported cue evidence of Mrs O’Brien. r lhe puree would not support a wages man m his opinion. ■ > Decision was reserved Ernest Francis Baldock, farmer (Mr T. E. Coates) appealed on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship. . , i To Mr Tracy witness said he naci two brothers, neither being farmers. To Mr Reid: The place was n a bad way when he took over were 150 acres cleared and in goon pasture. He owed no money, on the stock, and had built it up ’ His return from the cows was £4JV and from the sheep £I2J la.t sear, plus pigs. Decision was reserved Walter Hayes (Mr W, D. ra yloi) appealed for Harold hand, on the grounds of P ub -; c terest and undue Hardship. H.roi Hayes appealed on the same grounds. Evidence was given by Haiolci He y.s, who said that the cuttle lo>e. an area of 1300 acres, bounded uy tne Kumara JuncLon-Kumara loa., and the railway wn.ch were par,y unfenced. The area nad co Le patrolled at least once a day. 1 he Railway Department had refused to fence the railway line. Tb Mr Reid: He was on public works at Hoho until October, 1940, and do.ng the milk run when he came home. There were three permanent customers. He mi Red 16 cows last season, bringing them in himselr. If he had a job near home ne would cio so ber.ore go.ng to woxk. It would take two hours morning and night to milk them. He would have to hand-feed the cows instead o) letting them run out. There were only six cows when he worked on public works. To Mr McKane: There were two milk deliveries in Kumara. He naci about six customers at Kumara Junction. The income was £6l last year from th e cows, plus the day stock and. cattle. . Walter Hayes, father of reservist, in evidence produced a medical certificate and said he assisted in t..e Blinking shed when there was a lot oi work to do. He had not been able to get the cows in for 18 months. He worked on the Arahura Dredge, doing a light job. If the Board dismissed the appeal he would have tv sell the place. It was no use selling in winter. He had nothing apart from the farm, and considered the best time to sell was mid-summer. To Mr Tracy: The property had gone back because he could not get assistance, Thq income two years ago from the niilk run was over £260 He did not see that the be/./ would be better -off in the Army. His daughter, aged 18. did_no To Mr Reid: He was brought, up on a Taranaki farm. He had always had some cows. On the West Coast stock were in the best, condition m mid-summer. It was probably' not worth keeping- going as a da;rv farm He had put. all h’s savngs into TTo Mr Hall: He could not afford

to pay for assistance. Tne appeals were dismissed, reservist. not to be called up oel’urn October 1

Hoy William Doolan appealed on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship. The Cnairman said Doolan had been a seaman employed by the Union Co., and had since leic turn employment. The appeal was therefore struck out. x The Director of National Service appealed for Cecil Frank Herring, seaman employed by tne union S.o Co , on the grounds of public interest Reservist, in evidence, said he had been at sea five years. At present he was on compensation, but would bo fit for work next week. He anticipated no difficulty in getting back' with the Union or Anchor Companies Decision was reserved, the Chairman stating that as soon as he was engaged he was to inform the Com pari-y of the Board’s decision. The Union Steamship Co., Ltd. appealed on the grounds of publc in terest for Frederick Gordon Thoma? Brown, ship’s second officer. The appeal was adjourned sine die. Albert Edward Joseph Cornell, fireman annealed on the grounds o 1 public interest and undue hardship. The appeal was supported bv the Seamen’s Federation and was adjourned sine die on the grounds of public interest. The appeal of Haro’d Dando. seaman, who did not appear, was struck out

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. Ernest Henry Scrivener, electrician, who previously appealed aga nsTerritorial Service on giounus ox conscientious objection, appealed on the same grounds against overseas service. Tire- D.rector of National Service also appealed on the ground ot public interest, the appeal being Withdrawn Scrivener said he had no wish to add to the evidence he had given before the Board previously. The appeal was d.smissed, reservist to render non-combatant service only. Joseph Henry Skeats. who previously appea.ed on the grounds of conscientious objection against service in the Territorial Forces, appealed on the same grounds against overseas service. Mr W. D. Taylor appeared for- Skeats, and said that there was nothing to add to Skeats’ appeal before the Board previously. The appeal was dismissed, the reservist to render non-combatant service only. Thomas McGuire, junr., appealed on the- grounds of undue hardship, the chairman stating he had written asking for the appeal to be withdrawn as he had joined the Air Force Bruhn and Hendry, contractors, (Mr J W. Hannan) appealed on the grounds of undue hardship and public interest for James Andrew Laughton. Mr Hannan said the appeal was that Laughton should not be cal’ed up before September 9, when Laughton’s apprenticeship would be completed. The anneal was dismissed, reservist not to be called up before October 1. RESERVED DECISIONS. Reserved decision of appeals heard on Wednesday were given as follows, appellants being indicated in parenthesis: Donald Sinclair and Pearse John Gilbert (Gilbert, Tomasi Sawmill): dismissed, reservists not to be called before November 1; Ernest Edgar Barnett (R. V. Alborn): decision held over as no evidence was placed before the Board and the statement sent in by Alborn was not confirmed in sworn evidence; Jack Andrew Davy (J. A. Daw and Slab Hut Creek Gold Dredging Co.): adiourned sine die to be reviewed ! n six months: Timothy Neirn McMahon (T McMahon, sent) adjourned s’ne die; William George Graham Paterson: held over pend'ng further evidence as to his medical condition.