More Appeals Against Overseas Military Service

Northern Advocate, 2 April 1941, Page 2

More Appeals Against Overseas Military Service

Concluding its present sittings in Northland, the No. 1 Armed Forces Appeal Board heard further appeals against overseas service in the Whahgartu Courthouse today. Again most of the appeals were from farmers and were on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship. The board comprises Messrs C. R. Orr Walker (.chairman), T. P. McCready and A. M. Samuel. Mr F. J. Cox is the Crown representative and Mr G. E. Mortimer the secretary. At the conclusion of the sitting the board left for Auckland.

Managership of Farm

Appealing on behalf of her son, Roderick Alexander McLean, farm manager, of Waipu, Mrs Margaret A. McLean said that there were three sons and a daughter on a property of 425 acres. The eldest son had been turned down for territorial service as permanently unfit and unable to assist to any great extent with the farm, and another son was an invalid. It would not be possible to run the farm without the son for whom she appealed and who himself was anxious to go on service.

Evidence was given by McLean regarding the conduct of the farm work, production and work which had to be carried cut this year. Mr Cox said the fields inspector had reported that the farm was being efficiently farmed and production could not be kept up if McLean were taken. Neighbours Could Not Help.

Supporting evidence was given by Mr F. M. Mackwood, who said neighbours would not be able to replace the work carried out by McLean, who would be a loss to the district at shearing time. The appeal was adjourned sine die, a condition being that McLean should continue to assist in the district shearing. Two Adjournments. , An adjournment to enable John Henry Shalders, farmer and lorry driver, to obtain labour had not been productive, said Mr E. A. Harrison, who appeared for him and his mother, Mrs J. M. Shalders. No labour was available in the district. The case was adjourned sine die. Another adjourned appeal, that of Cyril Francis Bint, farmer, was supported by hfs mother, Mrs A. E. Bint, who gave evidence regarding the returns from the farm of 230 acres with 70 milking cows and 33 pigs. An adjournment sine die was granted. Apprenticeship. The appeal of William Howie, apprentice-carpenter (Mr E. A. Harrison) was supported by Mr A. Walker and Mr F. J. Howie. He had no objection to service, but wished to complete his apprenticeship terminating on March 31, 1942. He had been one of the young men affected by the depression and had entered apprenticeship at a later age than usual. Mr F. J. Howie stated in evidence that he had another son serving in the merchant service in the war zone, as well as a younger son 20 years of age.

In an adult apprenticeship the apprentice had to do two years in one, and his son was doing well, the employer stating that he would be fully qualified in three months' time. He would not support the appeal if it were for exemption. Pointing out that hundreds of men were suffering greater hardship than involved in this case, the board dismissed the appeal.

An appeal by Mr J. C, McKay for Thomas Christensen, share-milker, for postponement was granted, Christensen not to be called before May 1. Herd-testing Officer.

The Northland Herd Improvement Association appealed for' Charles Bertram Adamson, herd tester and depot controller in the Mangonui distinct, asking for postponement of service until September, evidence being given by Mr R. W. Taylor. The appeal was dismissed, Adamson not to be called until July ]. Farming 80 acres and milking 20 cows with the assistance of a brother aged 18, Bernard Henry Dawson, farmer, asked for postponement until July, the request being granted.

Expert Shearer

Stating that he was farming 870 acres on his own account, Patrick John Morresey, farmer, gave evidence in support of his appeal. The farm was carrying sheep and cattle and in addition he sheared for 26 different sheep owners in the district. He had two brothers, both of whom were farming their own properties. - Mr Cox said that Morresey was a highly-qualified farmer and an expert shearer, a shortage of whom was reported by the fields inspector. Appellant considered that his two brothel’s, who were farming their own properties were as much entitled to exemption as he was as they were similarly situated. “That would mean that there would be three single brothers left in the district while others were being taken,” the chairman said.

To Mr Samuel, Morresey said that the family as a whole farmed about 3000 acre's.

Younger Brother May Go

The appeal was adjourned until the next sitting in' Whangai’ei after the next ballot when the youngest of the three brothers would be called, the chairman indicating that the board was of the opinion that either appellant or his youngest brother should serve.

On the evidence before the board it appeared that appellant should be left behind as an essential man and that the youngest brother should go. but it was not prepared to give a decision until that brother’s story was placed before them. The appeal of Herbert Berridge was adjourned sine die. Mr H. Berridge said that appellant was his only help on the farm, and ns witness was 73 years of age and in indifferent health it would not be possible to carry on with the farm. Mine Pump Attendant An underground pump attendant at the Waro coal mines, Herbert Wilson Isherwood, was supported in his appeal by the Director of National Service. The mine manager, Mr Andrew Burt, stating' that he considered Isherwood a key man. The appeal was adjourned sine die. Farming on his own account, and also assisting his uncle, William Gecrge New appeared before the board. The appeal was supported by the uncle, Mr G. New, who, at 80 years of age, was unable to carry out any farm work. The appeal was adjourned sine die. Refused to Take Oath Refusing to take the oath on the Bible, but affirming, Hector Alexander Parks, appeared before the board. When Parks was told that his appeal

was on the ground of public interest only he stated that he had also appealed on the grounds of conscientious objection to service. It was pointed out to Parks that he had struck out conscientious objection grounds in his appeal. After an examination of the form, Parks said that he had made a mistake in striking out such grounds. The chairman explained that the board could not consider these grounds as they did not appear on the appeal form.

Parks said that he had started poultry farming after the war commenced. He now had 400 fowls and supplied eggs to Whangarei. The appeal was dismissed subject to Parks not being called for service before June 1.

W. M. Smith, appealed on the ground of public interest, in that he was dairy farming, milking 45 cows on 162 acres on his own account.

The board adjourned the appeal sine die.

Giving evidence in support of his appeal, George Whare Amos, farmer, said he was farming 120 acres with 20 milking cows. A brother who had a farm nearby milking 50 cows had been drawn in the overseas ballot, and had not appealed, expecting to go into camp shortly. Amos intended to work this farm as well as his own. The appeal was adjourned sine die. Postponement of Service.

Postponement of service until the end of July was granted William Heni’y Daniels. His application was supported by the Director of National Service. He and his brother were farming a property, said Daniels, and his brother was going into territorial camp at the end of April. When hi's brother returned from camp appellant said that he would be ready for sendee.

A share-milker, John Donald Dunn, was supported in his application for postponement of service by the Director of National Service. The application for postponement till the end of June was granted by the board. Henry Thomas Harvey was supported in his appeal by Messrs A. T. and R. M. Thomson, farmers, for whom Harvey did seasonal farm work. Harvey said that with his father he was farming 153 acres. The appeal was adjourned sine die, with the condition that Harvey carried out territorial camp training. Mr G. King said that his son, George King, assisted him on his farm. Witness was unable to do any farm work. The appeal was adjourned sine die, but reservist was to carry out territorial camp training.