WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 19 March 1942, Page 7

WESTPORT NOTES

(Our 'uwn Correspondent l . WESTPORT, March 18. High Tides for March; fev, Thursday. 19—11.47 a.m.; OO.OCrp.m. Friday, 20—00.09 a.m.; 00.24 p.m. Saturday, 21—00.45 a.m.; 01.02 p.m. Sunday, 22 —01.21 a.m.; 01.35 p.m. Personal: Corporal Jenkins, invalided home from the Middle East, wiili arrive in Westport to-day. Mr. C. Lester, of Murchison, was a recent visitor to Westport. Mr. W. Batchelor, of Nelson, who has been paying a business visit to Westport, has left .on return to Nelson.

St. Patrick’s Concert; The popularity of last night s st. Patrick's Day concert, held in bi. Canice s Hall, can be judged by the numbers turned away, the hall being filled to capacity. The cream of Westport’s musical talent provided those attending with a programme oi an extremely high standard and then appreciation was manifested by 1 me lengthy 'applause which follovyed each item. During the evening, the Rev. Father Phelan complimented those who arranged the programme and those who had taken part Father Pheian also thanked the Mayor,'Mr. J. M. Robertson. ana Mrs Robertson, for their attendance. In reply, Mr. Robertson thanked the St. Patrick’s Night Concert Committee for its invitation to De present and the artists for their excellent programme.

Territorial Appeals: Mr. W. Meldrum presided at a sitting in Westport yesterday of Area No. 9a Manpower Committee Associated with him were Messrs P. J. McLean and A. Panther. Air. C. F. Shapcott represented the Crown. Mining appeals were dealt with as follows: —Buller Gorge Coal Mining Co. (Mr. H. Maitland), on behalf of C H. Johnston, miner, adjourned sine die subject to reservist serving in the Home Guard; Cascade-West-port Coal Company, on behalf of J. R. Shaw, miner, adjourned sme die. subject to reservist joining the Home Guard. Charming Creek. Westport Coal Co., Ltd., for T. J. Masterton, engine driver, and N. J. Stack, trucker, both cases adjourned sine die subject to reservist serving in the Home Guard; Westport Coal Co., for T. B. Blyth, miner, M. F Cunliffe, trucker, W. D. Dixon, coke oven employee J. L. McGhie, collierv shiftman, D. McMillan, trucker, R. Stewart, chief rope splicer.—All these men were Millerton Mirie employees and had their cases adjourned sine die, subject to their rendering Home Guard service, or in the case of Dixon, continue as a fire brigadesman. The case of J. R. Walshe, electrician, also employed at the Millerton Mine, was reviewed and a'd-

iourned sine die, subject to reservists continuing E.P.S. work. The committee also decided to recommend that the reservist’s Air Force application be withdrawn. Appeals by the same Company on behalf of the following- Denniston mine employees were adjourned sine die subject to reservists rendering appropriate alternative service: J. R. Bateson, trucker; W. Clark, screen worker; J. W. Hannah, J. P. Hayes and H. E. Webster, miners; D. G. Insull, trucker; and T. C. Kerr, roperoad worker. The following appeals by the Westport-Stockton Coal Company, Ltd., were dealt with similarly: J. H. Harris, fitter and turner; A. M. Hill and D.'Summers, miners; W. L. McFarlane and J. E. Wilson, mine deputies; A.-Reid and W. C. Willman, truckers; R. McGregor, plate layer Mr. T. McGhie, Manager of the Westport-Stockton Coal Company Ltd.’s mine, said that thirty of his underground workers had absented themselves at one stage. He had appealed to them, but had received! no satisfaction, with the result that the output of the Company’s mine was affected,’ He wanted to know if the committee had any jurisdiction in this matter. The Chairman Pointed out that the committee had no control over a state of affairs ?b as this. However, if any of the defaulters had appeals lodged on their behalf, the committee would take into account the fact of their

non-attendance. Otto Levy. sawmilter (Mr. M-. B. Scully), applied for a rehearing of the appeal on behalf of I. P. L. Popich. bushman, which had been dismissed at the last sitting of the committee. Mr. T. McGhie, manager of the Westport Stockton mine, in evidence, said that Levy was the sole supplier of timber to the Stockton mine. Timber supplies had already been interrupted and he considered that if Popich was taken, the timber supplies would fal'l off, thus affecting the efficiency of the mine. The appeal was adjourned for review in three months, subject to reservist rendering alternative service. Denniston Motors, Ltd. (Mr. M. B. Scully), appealed on behalf of R. Mellett, motor mechanic, and A. M. Findlay, _ garage assistant. Mellett was essential, as he was employed mainly engaged in tranposrting miners to the top of Denniston Hill. Four buses were engaged on the run. Mellott’s case was adjourned sine die. subject to his rendering alternative, service. Findlay’s case was adjourned for review in two months’ time. Mr. 1L Mitcheli! (Mr. H. Maitland), appealed on behalf of A. S. Mitchell, sawmill worker and farmer. Mr. J. McEnaney, district forestry ranger, gave evidence concerning reservist’s value in the sawmilling industry. In his opinion, the retention of reservist’s service as a sawmilter were justified. Decision was reserved. An appeal by the Westport-Karamea Coop. Timber Co. (Mr. H. Maitland), on behalf of A. A. Burrell, sawmill hand, was adjourned for review in July, subject to reservist rendering alternative service. Mr. McEnaney, who also gave evidence in this case, said that reservist was an essential worker. C. J. Callaghan, baker (Mr. IT Maitland), appealed on behalf of F. J. Callaghan, baker. Evidence was given which showed that reservist was essential to the business. A substitute was unobtainable. If reservist was taken the output of the bakery would be reduced by half. Decision was reserved. H. C. Simp-I, son, student (Mr. H. Maitland), ap-J pealed on the ground that appellant ’ was due to sit for the . University ( Entrance and School Certificate Examinations at the end of this year. Appellant was aged 19 and was a student at Waitaki Boys’ High School'. The appeal was dismissed. An appeal by W. Brown, farmer (Mr. M. B. Scully), was adjourned sine die subject to reservist performing alternative service in the Home Guard. Westport United Dairies, Ltd. (Mr. M. B. Scully), appealed for* a. rehearing of the appeal of A. Cox, milk depot foreman. Appellant asked for six weeks’ adjournment to train a man to replace Cox. Service was postponed till May 1. W. H. Gourley, farmer (Mr. Scully), appealed on behalf of N. Christiansen, ’ butcher’s assistant. It was stated that the business where Christiansen was employed was a combined bakery and butchery, and the only one at Karamea. It was owned bv appellant’s

son, whovwas engaged in the Karamea district, largely as a slaughterman. As a result, Christiansen was for a large part of the time in sole charge. His appeal was adjourned sine die, on reservist’s grade three medical standard. G. W. Thompson, farmer, appealed for his son, L. Thompson, to be released from Ter- | ritoral camp. Up to the present, he had been doing a,31 the farm work himself. He was of advanced age and reservist had been his on I v help. He would be unable to do all the work after July and sought the re-

lease of reservist for this period. The committee decided to release reservist from July 1, 1942, till April, 1943. An appeal by J. Blair, hotelkeeper and farmer, ’ Ngakawa.u (Mr. Scully), on behalf of P. McCloney, farm labourer, was adjourned sine die, subject to reservist Joining the Home Guard. The Karamea Co-op. Dairy Co. Ltd. (Mr. Scully) appealed on behalf of J. C. Main, secretary of the company. It was stated that Main’s;' was a specialised job but that he would be released as soon as a replacement could be obtained. Efforts to secure replacement had so far been unsuccessful. The appeal was adjourned sine die, subject to reservist continuing in the E.P.S. With regard to the transfer of men to alternative service, the chairman pointed out that previously the committee had only directed that men render such service. There had then been no legislation to enforce this.

service, which is now compulsory. Because of his having volunteered for service, an appeal for J. Watson, senior master at the Westport Technical High School, bv the Board of Managers of the School, was heard in committee. Mr. Shapcott announced afterwards that the appeal had been adjourned sine die.