HEARING APPEALS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17335, 25 November 1916, Page 10

HEARING APPEALS.

UNDER SECTION 35. A WEALTHY FARMER'S SONS. Two cases of special interest under seHicu* 15 of the Military Service Act

were heard bv tho Military Service Board (Messrs I). G. A. Cooper, S.M., president, W. Perry and D. M'Laien) at Pnlmerston North on Wednesday, states tho. "Post." The appellants were two brothers, Stephen and John James Williamson, farmers of Waituna West, who appealed against heme called up on the grounds that such would ho contrary to tho public interests because of their occupation, and would he a cause of unduo hardship for the reason that respectively they had tbo solo management of tho stock and agricultural departments of a • large farm of 1400 acres, and owing, to the great difficulty of obtaining expert and other labour it would necessitate tho closing down of the enter-in-iso if they were called "P, thereby entailing undue hardship on the family. " r THINK IT IS VERY HARD." Stephen Williamson, father of the appellants, said he was sixty-six years .of 'age, and if his sous were taken he would have to close the farm. Captain Walker (military representative): Supposing you closed the place would you bo a pauper? • Witness; I should have to pay the rates. Captain Walker: You appeal on the ground, that it is an excessive hardship for youF—lt is not a hardship for me. I would go to the front-myself if they would have me. Have you prevented your boys from going?—No. As far as lam concerned, they can go. But I think it very hard, after having worked the farm from the bush state, tb have to lea-Ve it. You don't think you could sell the property at a good figure P— i don't think 1 havo any right to sell a property that/ I have brought up from tho hush state. If you sell that property, and realise on the stock and plant, would you care to tell us what you would be worth? Mr Murphy: 1 object to that question. It is not fair. Mr Cooper: Oh, yes. It is quite fair. You must answer tho question. Captain Walker said he was willing that witness should write the figure down tor the Court's information. Witness said that the Government valuation of the property was £20,000/ but there were the taxes to pay. Captain Walker: What do you think you would realise on the property if you sold it. lock, stock and barrel?— There is £.150 a year to pay in land taxes. But somebody else can pay the taxes when you sell it! —I don't wish to sell it. Supposing you did ■wish to sell it, what would you sell it at?—lt is a big area. Who is- going to put the crops in ? It is not. a hardshir; to me. It would.be no hardship for me to go to the frontHave you any other properties?— Yes. I suppose about £IOO,OOO would cover them ?—£loo,ooo. I know very well that everybody in the country is very bitter against the man whb has to work has way up—against the man who has made' money. . Witness then wrote down an estimate of his financial position for the information of the Court. Captain Walker: Have you attempted in any way to get a manager if the the boys went to. the front?—lt's not my place to do it. Could the property be cut up and sold? —Yes, it could be easily cut np and sold at decent prices. You'll admit, then, that the property would not necessarily be idle if the boys went to the front? —Yes, I'll admit that. Where, then, are the public going to suffer in view of that admission?— Well, if you have crops and stocks on land, and can't work them, there would he considerable loss. When could the first of your boys go away —I could go myself to-morrow. WILL YOU TOSS UPP Stephen Williamson, jun., son of last witness, said he was manager of the stock on'the farm. There were 3000 to 4000 shee;P, 140 cattle, and about thirty horses. He was twenty-eight years of age. Captain Walker: Have you any. reason to believe that the place would, not bo worked if you and your brother went to the front?—l do not suppose it would remain unworked. If my brother has to go, I will sell off all the sheep and cattle and let the place rip! Which of the two of you should go if one has to go?—I could not say. Will you toss up'to see who should' go?—Yes, I suppose so. Do you want to go to the front P—l reckon 1 am doing my duty better at home. Do I .understand you don't want to go? Do you prefer to have a feather bed at homo?—Oh, no; but I think I am doing my duty better by staying at home. Do you suggest that no one could be got at a fair salary to take your placo'if you go? Will you go so fatas to say that?—l suppose I could get 6omeone.

Mr Cooper. S.M.: Do you not know of several young fellows like yourself, close to Waituna, who have sold •ap their farms and gone to the front?— No, I do-not. Sir Cooper: It would help your case much better if yon would be more candid, Mr Williamson. John J. Williamson, younger brother of the previous witness, said he was twenty-five years of age- If he wentf into camp it would only mea.n the substitution of one able-bodied man for another. As- witness had had more military experience, he thought he shosild go before his brother did, but did not think it was fair if he were 6ent and another able-bodied mail took his place. It would take about five months to get the crops in. To Captain Walker: It. was difficult to get men over military ago to do the heavy work on the farm. Witness said he would do his best to use. bis military knowledge if he had to go. Mr Perry: What difference to the carrying capacity of the property would it make if it were not worked for a couple of years?—-The property i s good enough to' run without ploughing. Mr M'Laren: Have you discussed whether vou wpuld go away to do your share at the front?—Witness: We have discussed it this far, that wo have said nothing against going to the _ front. We have not gone deeply into it. BOTH. TO JOIN THE ARMY. After a brief retirement, the board returned the" following verdict: "In reference to Stephen Williamson, the appeal is dismissed. The board reServes its decision concerning John J. Williamson for five months, provided he remains in his present occupation during that period. "This means," added Mr Cooper, "•that at the end of five months John J. Williamson must be prepared to go into camp."