APPEALS HEARD

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 32510, 29 November 1944, Page 5

APPEALS HEARD

ARMED FORCES BOARD SITTING HELD IN PAERO/l CASES HEARD ON MONDAY A sitting of the No. 1 Armed Forces Appeal 'Board was held in the Courthouse, Paeroa, on Monday afternoon, the chairman, Mr Edwin Edwards, presiding. Associated with him were Messrs E. J. Wilton, J. J. Poland and Mr R. F. Peterson, representing the secretary, Mr R. W. Chappell.

Messrs C. A. Stembridge and Sons (Mr R. S. Carden) appealed for one of their drivers, W. R. Eraser, aged 34 years, married, with one child. Mr Carden said that Fraser was now sharemilking for Mrs Stemridge. This had been arranged by the late Mr Stembridge who died some four months ago. The work with the lorries had been too heavy for Fraser. The farm had been out of production for the past 10’ months. A herd of 55 cows would be milked this year. The appeal was' adjourned until March 3, 1945, the reservist to be medically examined in the meantime.

Victoria Bakeries Ltd., appealed for T. K. L. Bogue, aged 27, grade 1, married, with one child, returned from service in the 'Pacific area. Mr D. Leach, managing-director of the company, stated that the company through amalgamation had released men for service. This had thrown a lot of extra work on to his shoulders but he had carried on foi- some time. The company was employing eight men (four bakers, two drivers, ißogue and himself), and six girls. Bogue had been employed in a furniture business prior to entering camp. At present he was employed in the general management of the business, assisting the nfanaging-director. Bogue had had two years’ service overseas in the Pacific. Decision was reserved.

The Paeroa Borough Council appealed for R. S. Nicol, aged 35 years, grade one, married 1 with two children. Mr Edwards at this stage vacated the chair, Mr Wilton presiding. In a letter to the board the Mayor, Mr Edwin Edwards, stated that Nicol had been town clerk for the past eight years. Nicol had seen two years’ service in the forces with a term in the Pacific area. When Nicol had joined the forces it had been possible to arrange with the clerk of the Ohinemuri County Council to supervise the work of the Paeroa Borough Council. The Paeroa Borough Council at that stage had employed two competent girls, a senior and a junior. Owing to the strain of the work the health of the senior girl had 'broken down, necessitating her resigning from the position with the council since the return of the town clerk. It was now not possible to arrange for assistance with the Ohinemuri County Council as that council had lost its senior assistant. Nicol was only four months off being #6 years of age. The appeal was adjourned sine die.

.Mr C. Handley (Mr R. S. Carden), proprietor of Handley's Garage, appealed for J. C. Jamieson, aged 2il years, grade one, single. Mr Carden stated that Handley’s Garage employed two mechanics as well as the proprietor and apprentices. The firm was employed in servicing vehicles for farmers, Public Works Department, and other Government Department as well as for private firms and cars. Work at the garage was well behind and if Jamieson was taken to camp the efficiency of the garage would be seriously affected. McLeod, the first mechanic, was under specialist attention as the result of service overseas. Parts were difficult to secure to-day, resulting in considerable delay in the workshop. McLeod had been back in the garage for the last three months. The appeal was dismissed, reservist not to be called before January 31 so as to enable a replacement to be secured.

. W. C. Strong, blacksmith of Paeroa, appealed for his son, C. W. Strong, aged 22 years, single, a blacksmith’s assistant. Mr Strong wrote stating that he was very busy with farm repairs and his son was necessary to carry out this work. Appellant did not appear and decision was reserved. Messrs G. H. Sarjant and Son appealed for a lorry driver, D. B. Coldicutt, aged 22 years, married, with one child l , grade one. An appeal was also entered by Coldicutt. Coldicutt had seen service in the Pacific area. Sarjant in a letter stated that he employed four drivers and was engaged in carting milk to the factories on the Hauraki Plains. He, personally, was working 80 hours per week and his drivers were all working overtime. He needed another driver and his work was well behind. Coldicutt appealed on the ground of hardship,

pointing out in a letter his service in the forces in New Zealand and in the Pacific. Since returning he had settled his wife in a house, purchasing furniture etc. He could not leave his wife alone in the circumstances and vicinity in Which the house was situated. Sarjant said he had had three contracts and secured two more last June. The year before he had had four contracts.

The chairman said he considered that Sarjant had no right to take more contracts when he held drivers under appeal.

Sarjant said that the Licensing Authority advised them that if they had vehicle authorities it was their duty to tender for the work and give a service to the public. The appeal was dismissed, reservist not to be called before January 31.