MILITARY SERVICE

Grey River Argus, 24 July 1942, Page 8

MILITARY SERVICE

Miscellaneous Appeals HEARD AT GREYMOUTH. About thirty miscellaneous appeals against military service were heard by the No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board, Messrs W. Meldrum (chairman), A. Panther, P. JO’Regan, and the secretary (Mr o. F. Shapcott), at Greymouth yesterday. . , _ Runanga Co-op. Society and Kunanga Fire Brigade appealed for Patrick Francis Pollock, baker and pastry cook. T. Bowes (manager) said recruit was second baker. Ihe whole of Runanga and Dunollie was supplied by the Society and no other baker could take over the run. James Luff, of the Fire Brigade, said that only three members of the Brigade were in town all the time, and ready to attend all fires. Pollock was one of them. The other two men had been called up. The Brigade- was able to deal with any fire in the large district it covered. The rest of the Brigade worked in the mines. —The appeals were adjourned sine die. , , * Cobden Fire Brigade appealed for Horace William Anderson and Gordon Logan Anderson. J. Brailsford in the absence of Chief Officer T. . Gilmore, said Horace Anderson had had 15 years’ experience in the Brigade, joining when he was 15 years of age. Only four or five men would be available in day time. Gordon Anderson had been a member for 18 years. Both would be very hard to replace.—The appeals were adjourned sine die.

Bruhn and Hendry (Mr J. W. Hannan) appealed for Philip Stanley Hendry, contractor. Adolph Bruhn said his firm was engaged on local body or necessary defence work. His partner was essential. —The appeal was adjourned two months for review.

L. B. Davenport appealed for Francis Lewis Bell, carpenter and builder. Appellant said recruit’s services were required to finish a contract after which appellant and reservist were both prepared to enter camp. —The appeal was adjourned for three months for review. Eric Arthur Henderson Bunt, carpenter, whose previous appeal for postponement of service until May nad been granted, appealed again. Recruit said he had finished his work and had waited round for some time to be called up. However, he had now been allocated a defence job and thought he might serve bettei' by staying and fulfilling that contract. He also wanted his apprentice back from camp. He had been idle for two months waiting to be called up. A. F. Jamieson (secretary to the local Builders’ Association) said the Association had been allocated an urgent defence job. Bunt had been, appointed to do some of the work. There were seven contractors available in the district. ( Bunt, to carry out the work, required his other apprentice to be released from camp. If Bunt were not available the work would have to be spread amongst the other builders — It was decided that both applications be dismissed.

M. McDonnell appealed in respect of Hugh Joseph McDonnell, traveller. E. McDonnell said he now had a staff of ten. whereas at one time he employed fifteen. Two girls were employed in the office. He did not. think girls could be used in the store. He had two regular travellers besides his son, who was learning the business. Two more members of the staff wore to go to camp shortly. About half of reservist’s time was spent travelling.—The appeal was adjourned sine die. •lames Luey, fruiterer, appealed for a two months’ adjournment to obtain a man to take over his business. Appellant said he would lose a good deal, of capital sunk in the business if he had to leave his business. He had not yet been able to secure someone to purchase the business.—An adjournment until September 23 for review was granted. John Burns and Co., Ltd., appealed for John Joseph Addison, storeman. H. L. Cox (acting manager) said reservist had been storeman for five years. The work was essential and supplied necessary materials to miners, sawmills and dredges, etc. He could not be replaced, although strenuous efforts had been made. Mr Shapcott said the former manager of. the firm had stated to him that no appeal was necessary, and the firm could quite easily have carried on after June 30 if reservist had to go to camp.—The appeal was adjourned three months for review.

Duncan McLean, Ltd., appealed for George William Gunn, -accountant and cashier. L. D. McGlashan (secretary) said the company had been in operation for over 77 years. It. was the only genuine wholesale firm dealing to retailers throughout the West Coast. It represented many other firms of insurance and travel. Recruit had sole control of the cash and accounts. This was the first appeal by the firm, several of whose staff had entered camp. The staff Gad been reduced to a minimum of .14. There was no one who could substitute Gunn, About 11 hours

each dav was devoted to Government returns," import and rationing.—The appeal was adjourned sine die. Miller’s Warehouse Ltd. appealed for Leslie James Wicks, company manager. Mr A. M. Jamieson said appellant was fully responsible for buying for eight, departments, requiring sound knowledge. The possibility of obtaining a manager with the required qualifications was exceedingly remote. There was only one adult male assistant, but he had no buying or advertising experience, nor had the women assistants. The directors had considered sub-leasing the building in the event of it being necessary to close the business, but could only conclude that the chances of this being done were remote. If appellant’s services were lost the Greymouth business would have to close and the goodwill established over 10 years would be lost. It would be impossible for appellant’s father to control both the Westport and Grsymouth businesses. The case was adjourned sine die, appellant to do Home Guard service. Truman’s Ltd. (Mr A. M. Jamieson) appealed for Richard James Truman, draper. G. M. Truman, father of appellant, stated his son was fully engaged in managerial capacities and was the only member of the staff with a full knowledge of the business, which had already lost eight men, with a ninth ready to leave. Witness as managing-director was general supervisor. (His son was a corporal in the medical section of the Home Guard and attended parades regularly.—The appeal was adjourned sine die, appellant to continue in the Home Guard.

L. F. Hogg appealed for William Wellesly McKechnie, pharmacy manager, the appeal being adjourned sine die. It was stated that reservist was one of the only three qualified chemists in Greymouth. Dispatch Foundry Ltd. appealed for Arthur John Boucher (fitter), and Ernest Wilfred Thomas (moulder). W. P. Hambleton, manager, gave evidence as to reservist’s qualifications. —Sine die adjournments were granted. Leslie James Webb, hotelkeeper (Mr J. W. Hannan) appealed for a postponement of service. Reservist said he owned the hotel at Moana. All efforts to dispose of it had been unsuccessful. He had now leased it on a monthly basis. He asked for postponement until September 1. — The appeal was dismissed, the chairman stating that if the board allowed an appeal submitted in June where reservist was called in a January. ballot, it would leave itself open to similar late appeals. Greymouth Harbour Board’s appeal for David Service Kennedy, Harbour Board Engineer, was adjourned sine die. The secretary (W. B. Gilbert) gave evidence as to the need of the board to retain a qualified engineer. If Kennedy went to camp it would be almost, if not quite, impossible- to replace him. When applications were called three years ago only one suitable application was received. He was in charge of the Harbour Board E.P.S. Mr A. M. Jamieson said that as a result of an accident Mr Kennedy probably would not be medically fit for six months.

Maori Gold Ltd. appealed in , respect of Alexander John Caithness (dredgemaster) and John Acker (fitter and farmer). D.'Caithness. father of one reservist and mine superintendent of the company, said his son had a thorough knowledge of all departments and was quite indispensable. Acker was a very good tradesman and there was no chance of replacing him. He had a dairy farm at Tarakamau where he worked in the busy season. Acker stated he worked from dawn till dark seven days a week. At present it was necessary to obtain outside employment for economic security.—Sine die adjournments were granted, both to continue in the Home Guard. An adjournment of two months to enable recruit to be replaced, was granted in the case of Martin Raymond Bunt for whom an appeal was lodged by J. M, Bunt and Co., and by Maori Gold Ltd. J. M. Bunt, principal of the firm, said that it had been impossible to replace reservist who was a qualified accountant. Five men had been called for military service and four had already left. Reservist was secretary to the Westland Laundry Coy., secretary for Maori Gold, Ltd., and auditor for a number of firms.

Westland Transport Ltd. (Mr J. W. Hannan) appealed for George Walter Thompson, public accountant and commission agent, who had also lodged an appeal. J. M. Eadie said he previously did the office work for the company, but since the reduction in his staff, he had been compelled to find someone else. He now worked long hours on the outside staff. Reservist did the accountancy and was the only man who knew the work.—The appeal was adjourned for three months for review. Westland Transport also appealed for Angus Scott M. McLean, truck driver. J. M. Eadie said the company was very short of drivers. Reservist carted timber bn a four or six-wheeled lorry.—The appeal was adjourned sine die. »

W. J. Mallinson appealed for Albert James Mallinson. farmer. . Appellant said that if his brother had to enter camp it would cause loss of production on the farm. —The appeal

was held over for a week. Grey Electric Power Board appealed for Arthur Beban, meterreader. whose own appeal was not prosecuted. The board secretary, W. S. McClymont, said there were originally three meter-readers; but one was shortly to go to camp and a different period of reading was arranged so as to allow it to be done by two men. The board could not release another man. The district, was very difficult to read and it was not considered advisable to employ girls. The board’s appeal was adjourned for three months for review. The board also appealed for James William Grant (electrician). The Engineer (Sinclair Trotter) said reservist’s services were indispensable. He worked long hours and was compelled to turn out at all times. He was second in charge and had taken over many of the duties of the assistant engineer.—A sine die adjournment was granted. Greymouth Golf Club’s appeal for Gordon P. Worsley, greenkeeper, was struck out.

Gorden David Elley, master butcher, appealed on the grounds of public interest. Reservist said he served the residents of Kumara and adjacent districts; he opened a shop in Otira twice a week. Normally his only assistant was a boy, but as a result of an injury, which would keep him incapacitated for six' months, relations and friends were giving assistance. He had taken on the Otira business as an obligement to ensure residents were supplied.— An adjournment sine die was granted.

John Roger Haglund, a student, appealed for an adjournment in which to conclude his studies. A postponement of service until February 28 was granted. Mr A. M. Jamieson said Haglund was a pupil of the Technical High School. He desired to enter the teaching profession. There was no suggestion that he sought to avoid service, but was most enthusiastic. Ronald Demetrius Crase was granted a sine die adjournment, an appeal on the grounds of undue hardship being lodged by his mother, Mrs Helena Crase. Mr Jamieson said the board had already granted two sine die adjournments. Reservist’s mother was in a serious state of health. Reservist produced evidence that her health had not improved and that, as the only son, it was essential he visit her. He sought exemption from the Home Guard as the hospite;! hours conflicted with the parade times, but he had endeavoured to join the Auxiliary Fire- Brigade.” The case was further adjourned sine -die, reservist to join the Karoro Home Guard or the Auxiliary Fire Brigade. Isabella McGlashan appealed for John W. Lindbom, bus driver. Appellant stated Lindbom was a foreman driver with 15 years’ service. Only two applications had been received in response to an advertisement, but these proved unsuitable-. The apnrentice had been posted to camp, throwing extra work on Lindbom.—An adjournment sine die was granted. Lindbom to remain in the Heme Guard.

George Henry Martin, coal mine employee Mr Jamieson)) appealed on his own behalf, stating he was also engaged in electrical work ■in connection with gold dredges. He had been compelled to work on Sundays for the past year owing to the shortage of electrical engineers. He produced a document from eight coal companies stating he was a key man.—The case was adjourned sine die, Home Guard duty being ordered where possible. An appeal by Clifford Crosby Hende, contractor, on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship, was adjourned sine die. Mr E. F. Evans, District Public Works Engineer, sa’d the Minister was loath to close down the work on which Hende was assisting by delivering gravel for road purposes. If he had to give ud the work the job would net necessarily be closed down, but would be retarded. Witness would like him to carry on, though, as District Engineer, he could not lodge an appeal. J. F. Low, appealed for Leonard George Lane, mechanic. The case was stood down.