Farmer Appellants Before Manpower Com. at Kaitaia

Northern Advocate, 9 December 1940, Page 2

Farmer Appellants Before Manpower Com. at Kaitaia

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”] KAITAIA, This Day.

A sitting of the Manpower Committee was held at Kaitaia last week.

Of the appeals, nearly all of which were by or on behalf of farm workers, none were allowed, but adjustments were made so that two members of a family would not have to go to camp at the same time.

In only one case was an appeal pressed, and generally a postponement only of training was asked.

Few Sawyers,

An appeal was made on behalf of James Saies by Lane and Sons. It was stated by Mr Lane that Saies was a sawyer on the circular bench and could not be replaced. He had been in his present position three or four years. There were four sawyers at the mill capable of being swapped round under normal conditions, but, at the present time, the only way to fill Saies’ place would be to obtain a man from another mill, and this would be no. advantage from a national point of view. Mr Coates: You must face up to the situation. The men must have training and employers are assisting in that.

Mr Lane: We have 15 key men in our employment, but at times as many as 60 are employed. “It is a question of which is most important —that a man should receive military training or that timber should be produced.” The appeal was dismissed. Doesn’t Want to Go Overseas. PI. H. Alcock appealed on the ground of public interest. He stated that it was his intention to start dairy farming next season. He was willing to serve at home, but did not want to go overseas. At present he had a job at Pukenui wharf, but was willing to go into camp in June or July of next year. Mr J. B Reynolds: Alcock has just been drawn in the ballot for overseas service and, if medically fit, the only objection which can succeed will have to be on conscientious grounds. . Mr Magee: Best to go into camp and get it over. Your case is very weak and you must go into the January camp.

Three Farming Sons,

An appeal was lodged on behalf of A, A. Bell by his father, A. G. Bell, on the grounds of undue hardship and public interest. Mr Reynolds said Mr A. G. Bell had two sons engaged in farming. He had a farm of 80 acres, and two years ago purchased a property of 250 acres eight miles away as a run-off. The latter farm was worked by another son, who milked about 10 cows, in addition to cropping, etc.

Some years ago Mr Bell, sen., had had a serious illness from which he had never fully recovered and for the past two years his two sons had been working the farm. In an endeavour to retrieve the position after the last slump, the two sons had worked without wages, but last year one son had married and had been placed on the basis of a sharemilker. Cannot Grant Total Exemption. Alfred George Bell said his age was 68 and he owned 83 acres on which 83 cows were milked. He had not - been able to do farm work for some years and could not run his farm without his son, Arthur, who did the whole of the farm work. To Mr Horrobin: He had another son in the Post Office, who had been called up in the latest overseas ballot. Mr Coates: Total exemption cannot be granted. It is only a question of the season of the year most suitable for training.

Appeal Dismissed

Mr Bell acknowledged'that his sons would have to go into camp sooner or later, but said it would be very awkward if either had to go before the end of the milking season.

The farms being eight miles apart, one son could not work both. In the event of one son going into camp in January he would prefer that he be William John. To Mr Coates In the event of William John going into camp now and coming out in March and the other going into camp on April 18 the former could carry on during the winter months, but would not be able to get any crops in.

The appeal was dismissed. The appeal of F. G. E. Cashman, representing the Kaitaia Timber Company, on behalf of David Smail, was dismissed.

James McCullough (Takahue), on behalf of one of hfs employees, J. H. Wright, requested a postponement of the time for going into camp. On being questioned by Mr Gray, Mr McCullough said that a postponement till April would meet the case.

Two Called for Overseas

Mr J. B. Reynolds appeared for Mate Srhoj (Waiharara), who appealed on behalf of his son, Andrew. It was stated that Mr Srhoj had two farms, on one of which 100 to 110 cows were being milked, while on the other, five miles away, 55 cows were being milked.

Mr Reynolds said that since <,the appeal was lodged two other sons had been called up in the ballot.

Mr Srhoj was 68 years of age and was not able to do much farm work. Mate Srhoj stated that Andrew and another son could go into camp in April, but he could not do without any of his sons during the milking season.

Mr Magee said the work on the farm would have to be re-arranged so that the men could get their training in.

Managed Farm.

C. W. E. Clark, appealing on his own account, stated that he conducted a dairy farm at Pukepoto and milked 50 cows by himself. Mr Reynolds: Mr Clark’s mother is a widow and his. father was a retired colonel. Since the death of his father the son had carried on the farm.

It was only a case of fitting in the best time for service. A brother was going into camp in January. A postponement till he came back would be satisfactory. A. McL. Wright appealed on behalf of his son, Clarence Alex Wright. Appellant said this was the only son on the farm.

One son had been in camp, but was now home. He was an n.c.o. and would havq to go later to complete his training. There were actually three sons at home, but one was the driver of a school bus.

If his son Clarence went into camp in Aoril it would meet the case. On behalf of E. Yates, Herekino, Mr Reynolds asked for postponement for six months or till the end of April.

Forced Sale Necessary. J. W. Johnson (Church Road) appealed on behalf of his two sons, James Alfred and William Douglas. It was stated that they were milk*ing 100 cows on two farms and that a hurried clearing sale would be necessary if they went into camp. • A third boy had been called up m the last ballot and no appeal was being lodged for him. Mr Johnson said his sons had no wish to avoid military service and were anxious to go into camp.

The appeal was dismissed. Appeals made by Mr Marinkovich, on behalf of his two sons, Edward and Frank, were dismissed. The father, it was stated, was 84 years of age, and the sons were running a dairy farm of 165 acres. They had taken over the farm 18 months ago, and the work throughout the year involved the clearing of three miles of drains. Case of Half-Castes. Appeals lodged on behalf of D. and G. Lunjevich, Herekino, by the father, were also dismissed. Mr Kelly appeared for appellant, and it was shown that the father had three farms worked mainly by his sons, at Herekino, but Mr Kelly said the chief ground of objection was that the two young men were half-castes. Mr Gray: In that case, the father is not eligible to appeal, and the appeal must be made by the sons themselves. Mr Kelly said he was asking for postponement, not exemption. Mr Lunjevich owned three farms situated six miles apart. The two sons were farming 430 acres and milking 50 cows, and had a Maori youth to assist. The father was farming the homestead of 85 acres, on which 40 cows were milked. On the third property of 100 acres, 35 cows were milked. Exemption was only asked till the milking season is over.

The appeal was dismissed. George is to go into camp in January, and the other son later.