FIFTY MINERS EXEMPT

Grey River Argus, 29 April 1942, Page 1

FIFTY MINERS EXEMPT

Territorial Service SEVENTY APPEALS AT GREYMOUTH. Over seventy appeals, against Territorial Service were heard by the No. 9a Manpower Committee, Messrs W. Meldrum, A. J. Panther and P. J. McLean; with C. F. Shapcott, (Secretarv) at Greymouth yesterday. In each of the following fifty appeals for men employed in the mining industry sine die adjournments were granted, and in the' majority of cases the reservists were ordered to join the Home Guard: Williams and Party (Mr. A. M. Jamieson) appealed for Roy Sinclair Bennett, (miner). It was stated that recruit was essential to the working of the mine, having been employed there for 6 years. He was in the E.P.S. and mine rescue brigade. Stuart and Party for Lyall Stewart, miner. It was stated recruit had served ia year in the Auxiliary Fire Brigade. He was a good worker and attended.

Currie' and Party for Ernest John Greening, miner. R.' Harris, (Secretarv) said recruit was a regular attender. There were seven men employed. Recruit was a member of the party. Balderstone and Party appealed for Frederick William Pascoe, miner, and Walter F. McNaughton, miner. The manager said both had been employed for eight years at the mine. The partv was carrying on with the normal team of 16. Kaye and Party for Harold Boote, rnrner. James Neilson, in evidence, said recruit had been working ip the mine since he left school about 10 years ago. He was a' good attender. At present the mine could employ another man.

Spark and Par.'V for Peter McLauchlan Rae, miner, and Andrew Flaggertv Wrigh't, miner, and Gordon William N. McKenzie, truck."?. It was stated that Rae was a regular attender and with Wright had joined the. party from the State Mine. McKenzie was formerly a bushman and joined the mine in - December 1941. He had previous mining experience.

Tinning and Party appealed lor ■Feter Hassan, miner. J. Tmmng, (Secretary), said reservist had been with the party for . five years ' and had previous experience. He was the only shot-firer in the mine. Smith and Party for Peterainee Symons, miner. It was stated reservist had been employed with the partv for five iand a half years and had previous mining experience. Brunner Colleries appealed lor John Bell, (binns hand), Roy Francis 'Beadle (shiftman), Harold Browning (shiftman), Albert George Favel (miner), Bruce William Gracie (trucker), Lacey Gibson (electrician),. .....Charles Addison Reid (lampman), Cyril Shirley (winchman), George Charles Youngman (trucker), John Roger Yackney (trucker). Charles Henry Blance (lampman), William Oliver Black (miner), and William Desmond Crowe (trucker). The Manager, Mr. F. E. Lockington gave details as to the period of service of each reservist.

Blackball State Coal Mines appealed for A.ndrew David Kennedy (fitter), Walter Goodall , (blacksmith), and Charles Quibell (trucker). Mr. H. Quinn, Manager, said Kennedy had been employed since March 1939 at the mine, prior to which he worked on a dredge. He was an efficient welder. Goodall was the only blacksmith land had been employed at the mine s.nce he left school. Quibell had been .in mines since he left school. He,left Blackball Creek to join the State mine. He was the only trucker appealed for. .There was no actual shortage of men at the mine. There were a number of single men in the mine.

Grey Valley Collieries appealed for Rey Wick (miner);', George Henry Swinburn (trucker), Alfred Hoggarth (winchman), and Robert Randolph Ferguson (trucker). Mr. J. G. Quinn, manager, said all the men had been employed at the mine for some time and were good workers. Ferguson, however, was not a good attender and had lost three days in the last three weeks. STATE MINE APPEALS.

State Coal Mines appealed for the following: Frank Reginald Aubrey Avery, George Frederick Carpenter, John Roy Daniel Broome (miners), Frederick Broom (shiftman), Phillip Gerald Bromley (tub repairer), Samuel Maskill, Norman William Little (miners) 1 , Thomas Francis Lord (shiftman), William Thomas FosterLynam, James Keith Henderson (miners), James Higson (rope boy), Francis Keith Johnson (leading flitter), Frederick J. Finn (miner), Gilbert Joseph Stenhouse (shiftman), Alexander Gibbs Alan (trucker), Norman Garfield Thompson (bums .loader)', John . Joseph Smilthson 1 (screen worker), George E. Whyte (trucker). Mr. P. M. Outhwaito (manager oi the Strongman Colliery) said Avery had had seven years’ mining experience. Carpenter "commenced work in January IJaJ and was a good worker. Broome had been working four years at cue mine and had previous experience. Broom began in November 1940 ana was an experienced collier. He was an active member of St. John Ambulance Brigade. Kiely began m June 1940 with preivous experience. Little had five years experience and was an excellent worker. Lynam began in June;, 1940, and had lour years former experience. Finn nai "been working in a mine smee he lelt school. Allan began on January o, 1942, having had live’ years’ former experience at Paparoa mine. Thompson began in 1940 and had previous experience. Smithson had been employed for six years at the mune. Whyte began in February 1941. He had been turned down unlit lor overseas service. Mr J. Adamson (manager of t.ie L’verpool Colliery) said Bromley began in June 1939 and was a reliable man. Maskill began in 1928 and had been working at the mine since he left school. Lord began in April 1940 as a trucker and was not a shiftman. Henderson had eleven years’ experience and was a good attendee. Higson began in 1938, was a good worker, and a regular attendee/ Johnson also had eleven years experience. Stenhouse began m March, 1941 as a shiftman, previously working at Blackball. An appeal by the Grey Valley Collieries for Richard Charles Masters Buckman (miner) was withdrawn. OTHER APPEALS. Dispatch Foundry Co;, Ltd., appealed for John Charles Drummond

(iXlectr’.c welder), Wallace Whitford •. McKechnie (engineers draughtsman)’, and Owen Haurice Beirne (boilermaker-welder). Mr. W. P. Hambleton gave evidence as to the" length of service of each man and said if the men were taken away it would be impossible’ to carry on.—All were adjourned sine die. Recruits to join the Home Guard. Hahn Bros, appealed for Sydney Cheetham, sawmill hand. ( The Secretary said it was a rehearing. Mr. F, L. Turley said reservist -come from Christchurch on holiday, expecting to be called up at any time. He joined the mill in August, and was'called in January. He intended to go back to Christchurch, but under the regulations was not allowed io leave the mill. He stopped, and was appealed for. He was a good worker and should be retained in the industry. Leave was granted to rehear the appeal. Mr. Turley said reservist was a second yardman. The mill could not carry on without him, and a substitute would be hard to procure. He had not. been examined.. He was willing to go to camp. The mill’s outpi.it. was all used by the military forces. About 20 men were employed on an average, and 21 at present. Mr. G. A. Hahn confirmed Mr. Turley's evidence. Decision was reserved until Thursday Owen Horace Howson, farmer (Mr. E. B. E. Taylor), appealed on grounds of public interest. Mr. Fleming (Stock Inspector), said Howson was making good progress on his farm and was serving the Wes'Coast well. He had about 109 pigs, 22 breeding sows and 93 store pigs. He was an important pig breeder. He would get about 10 tons of pig meat off the farm each year. He was a butcher before he took over the business a year ago. Appellant said he supplied the local and Canterbury market. He had ' endeavoured to sell or lease the farm. His father was in ill health. The appeal was adjourned sine die. Grey Hospital Board (Mr. C. R. McGinley), appealed for John Blanchiield, painter. Mr. S. H. Schofield-, House Manager, said reservist began employment about sjx weeks ago, and was now engaged in painting the interior and exterior of the hospital buildings, and keeping them in good condition. It was a full time job. It would take about three years to paint the whole hospital. The Chairman said the committee did. not think. the services of a painter were essential to the Hospital, and would dismiss the appeal. Gilbert. Bros, appealed for Ralph James Warburton, watchmaker. Thomas Heineiger said reservist had been in the business three years, and if he went to camp the repair business would have to close o.own. There was more work now than before the war. His efforts to replace Warburton were unsuccessful. ‘ A six-months’ adjournment and reI view were asked for. The appeal I was adjourned three months for review.

Baillie Neville and Co., Ltd. (Mr. A. •M.”Jamieson),- appealed for Leonard Maurice Nixon, storeman. Mr. C. Neville said Nixon had been employed by the firm for eight years. He'had been called for the National Reserve. A substitute obtained by the firm had been mobilised three weeks later. Witness had to take up storeman’s duties. It would be almost impossible to carry on without Nixon. The appeal was adjourned for three months for review

Albert Thomas Birchfield (Mr. A. M. Jamieson), appealed for his son, Maxwell John Birchlield, farmer. Appellant said his son wax in soffi charge of his farm at Haupiri and also cut silver pine ports and sleepers, and had purchased a tractor for the purpose. All witness’s cap.'tal was invested in the . property. He would be a heavy loser if he haci to sell. He could put out 1,000 feetof timber o' day. The appeal was adjourned for three months for review.

Ashby Bergh ajtd Co., Ltd., . appealed in respedt of Maurice William Thomas Moore, hardware" assistant. Mr. L. C. Lindley said reservist began in 1930 and now was senior assistant, and was managing the hardware department. Efforts had been made to replace him without success. The Department supplied goods to many essential industries. This was the firm’s first appeal. The appeal was adjourned sine die.

W. M. McVicar (Mr. W. D. Taylor), appealed for Patrick Walter Burrows, butcher. Appellant said he was a farmer and butcher at Totana Flat. Reservist did the delivering, and was on the run every six days. Witness could not carry on his business without Burrows’ assistance. There were from 600 to 900 sheep and about 200 cattle. The appeal was adjourned sine die.

Harker’s Tea Rooms, Ltd. (Mr. A. M Jamieson), appealed for Reginald Lawrence Olsen, baker. Mr. G. R. Harker said Olsen was a baker. He had been with the firm 13 years. It would be impossible to carry on it the reservist went. There was a shortage of bakers at present. Witness assisted in the bakehouse on busy days. Pie could not take reservist’s place. The work would be too heavy for female labour. The appeal was adjourned sine die. Percival Beck appealed in respect of his son, Arnold Beck, grocer. Appellant said he had lost three men who had gone to camp. HiS' son was the only man ‘able to drive a lorry left at the shop. There' were also two girls and a storeman beside reservist. The girls had no experience. When reservist was on delivery they were alone in the shop. The storeman could not deliver or serve. If his son left he would have to close up. He equid not. get girls. He did not consider they, were suitable. He had to take a girl aged 20 years with no experience at all. The appeal was adjourned sine die.

Keating Bros. (Mr. W. D. Taylor), appealed for Thomas Walter Dove, grocer’s assistant. Mr. J. Keating said there was a staff of foui' men. Three of his men had gone to camp. The business had a large turnover. Unsuccessful efforts had been made to secure a substitute. He wanted an adjournment of six months tor review. Two other members ot the staff had been called up. Their rhedical grading had been reserved. He did not think girls were suitable as the work was too heavy. He could not do with fewer than three men. If he cut out his delivery he would lose a good deal of trade. He would not like to carry on with a girl and" let a man go. Witness worked seven days a week. Reservist was his top hand. After an adjournment, the' case was . adjourned for three months for review W. li. Boucher and Co, (Mr. E. B. E. Taylor), appealed for Peter Eugrocer’s assistant. Mr. W. Boucher said the staff was

three men short. All advertisements for substitutes were fruitless. Reservist had been employed with the firm since he left school. He delivered three mornings a week. A girl was not suitable in a grocer’s shop. However, he had tried 1o get female assistance unsuccessfully. One man was to leave for camp shortly. Reservist was the fifth member of the staff to be called up, and was the first man to be appealed for. The appeal was also adjourned for three months.