Armed Services Appeal Board

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 187, 8 August 1941, Page 8

Armed Services Appeal Board

SITTING IN FEUjDING The Armed Services Appeal Board held a sitting in Feilding yesterday, the business occupying the whole day. Mr. A. Coleman, S.M., (chairman) presi \d and the other members of the board were Messrs. T. It. Lees and T. H. B. Ewens. Mr. C. H. Clinkard appeared on behalf of the Crown.

On the grounds of undue hardship, J. E. Barltrop, solicitor, Feilding, appealed on behalf of his son, Maxwell Barltrop. Evidence was given that difficulties in arranging for the release of the reservist had arisen owing to the affliction of appellant who said that his son was anxious to serve. The appeal for an extension of time was formerly dismissed conditional on the reservist not being called up before December 31 next.

An adjournment sine die was granted in the case of the appeal of Janies Jackson Wood, farmer, of Bunnythorpe, on behalf of his son. Appellant and reservist were milking 110 cows and were carting whole milk twice a day to the factory. They could not get any assistance and if the reservist had to go some of the cows would have to be sold.

An adjournment sine die of the overseas service appeal was granted in the case of Lancelot Raymond Gates, farmer, of Oroua Downs, who was transferred to the Territorial Force for three months ’ training in camp during March, April and May of next year. Reservists father, Raymond Gates, stated that he had one son on active service and the reservist milked 112

Wilfred H. Henson, farmer, Feilding, appeared in support of the appeal of Hamilton E. Henson on behalf of an employee named Ronald R. Rowe. Three farming properties were involved and it was explained that the reservist worked for Hamilton Henson who, in turn, as son of Wilfred Henson, was studmaster for his father. The chairman commented that there was no hardship to Hamilton Henson who was working mostly for his father. It was rather an unusual application and the board was concerned with immediate relations and not those, as in this case, which were so remote. The appeal was dismissed conditional on reservist not being called up for service before September.

The appeal of Samuel James Teaz, senr., Feilding, on behalf of his sou, S. J. Teaz, jnr., was dismissed, conditional on reservist not being called up for service before October 31. The appellant had two farms and carried COO sheep of which 300 were ewes as well as other dry stock. The reservist had served with the Manawatu Mounted Regiment, but was required for farm management. The chairman remarked that looking after 600 sheep was not really a man's job and appellant was really asking the board to deprive the country of an able-bodied man for the sake of 300 breeding ewes. He considered that appellant could make arrangements to carry on without difficulty.

An adjournment was granted until* next Wednesday in the case of Thomas A. E. M. Heneghan, of Kimbolton Road, Feilding. It was stated that the likelihood of appellant being called upon for overseas service depended on the availability of a brother who had recently been in hospital. Thomas Lawton, shearing contractor, of Feilding, gave evidence on behalf of the Director of National Service for Laurie Edward Newall, shearer, of Stanway. Witness stated that he had already lost two members of his shearing gang who had gone overseas and he wanted Newall who was a fast shearer and would do well over 200 a day. He had contracts for 60,000 sheep and desired Newall to be retained until the shearing was cut out. The chairman said that while the country wanted men for overseas service it also wanted the wool clip which was important. After consideration the board decided to review the case again in December next.

In the case of A. S. Brewster, farmer, Feilding, the appeal was dismissed conditional upon the reservist not being called up before January 31. The evidence disclosed that reservist and his brother were endeavouring to make suitable arrangements to enable the service required to be rendered. As the reservist had joined the Air Force the appeal of Thomas M. Henson was withdrawn.

In the case of Benjamin Merritt, farmer, Mt. Biggs, who stated that he was working a farm of 300 ewes leased from his mother, the chairman said that the board had heard hundreds of such cases. It was really absurd that a man should be tied up to 300 or 400 ewes when it was apparent that assistance could be secured from relatives to manage the concern. Frankly the board considered that the appellant could make satisfactory arrangements with his brother-in-law to work this small farm. One was forced to the conclusion that there was no desire to render service to the country. Counsel for reservist agreed that it might be possible to come to some satisfactory arrangement with the relatives of reservist and the case was adjourned until next week. George Lloyd Pearson, farmer, Carnarvon, was appealed for by his father, Ronald R. Pearson, who said that his son had charge of over 1400 ewes. He was asking for time in an effort to mako other arrangements. The appellant was medically unfit to work on the farms. The appeal was dismissed conditional on reservist not being called up before January 31 next.

An adjournment sine die conditional on the reservist rendering service in the Home Guard was granted in the case of Lester William Thurston of Colyton, whose father stated that he was without other assitanco in the working ot his farm of 246 acres which carried a large number of ewes. The board expressed the opinion that the reservist

should have some training. In the case of Edward Laurence Kearney, of Apiti, the board decided to adjourn the overseas appeal and to transfer reservist to the Territorial Force for three months’ training in camp in April, May and June next. The appeal of Lionel Roger. Meads, farmer, Rewa, was dismissed, reservist to remain in the Home Guard and not to be called up before May 31. Reservist stated that he had a farm of 273 acres carrying over 300 ewes and over 200 hoggets. Ho was also a shearer and had contracts to perform if time were allowed. Ivan Ronald McLean, farmer, Wai-

tuna West, assisted Ms father -with 1200 ewes and his case was adjourned sine die. Meanwhile he is to be transferred to the Territorial Force for three months’ training in camp. The Director of National Service appealed on behalf of Alexander Torrey, farmer, Bulls, who had 00 cows to milk, the labour being Tendered by reservist and his brother. If ho was ordered to camp some of the herd would have to be sold. He was keen to go but could not make arrangements. The appeal was dismissed, meanwhile the reservist is to servo with the Territorial Force for three montHs’ camp from April next. Thomas Lynch, farmer, Kimbolton Road, Feilding, examined on his appeal, said that he had saved £IOOO to enable him to purchase his farm on which he milked 40 cows. He purchased the farm last year well knowing that there was a possibility of his being called up for service. After consideration the board dismissed the appeal conditionally on the reservist not being called up before May 31 next. In support of an appeal lodged by his mother, Thomas Patrick O ’Hagan, farmer, of Apiti, said that he had a farm at Apiti and also worked his mother’s farm at Bunnythorpe. Two other brothers had farms at Apiti. He admitted that between three of them the brothers owned 1500 ewes. He had no objection to Territorial training. The overseas appeal was dismissed and reservist was transferred to the Territorial Forces for three months’ camp from April next. On examination Stanley Colin Richards, farmer, Makino, said that he preferred farming to overseas service because ke had worked ever since he was a boy to acquire the present property. The chairman remarked that if appellant was to keep his farm then someone would have to tight for it. Did reservist think the farm worth fighting for? Richards confessed that he did and that he had endeavoured to secure labour to release him, but had not been successful in securing the right type of labour. The appeal was adjourned sine die, reservist to enter a Territorial camp for three months’ training from March next. In the case of Douglas James Newall. farmer, Levin, the board adjourned the appeal sine die and ordered that reservist be transferred to the Territorial Force for three months’ training from ! April next. Arthur James Anderson, apiarist, Feilding, said in support of his appeal . that he had 1000 hives and produced 35 . tons of honey annually. He had two untrained assistants and could not get , away unless his business was closed , down. In answer to the chairman he , agreed that everyone had to make some [ sacrifice. He was not. in the Home , Guard as he could not find the time to devote to the training. The board adjourned the appeal sine die and ordered \ appellant to join the Foilding unit of , the Home Guard within 34 days.