Term Of Release For Soldiers Taking Farm Work

Northern Advocate, 14 November 1942, Page 5

Term Of Release For Soldiers Taking Farm Work

(Special) KAITAIA, This Day. During a silting of the No. 1 Armed Forces Appeal Board at Kaitain it was brought to notice that soldiers returned to their farms from camp had erroneously obtained the impression that their release was indefinite. The true position was stated by the chairman (Mr. W. Jones) and the area officer (Major A. A. McLauchlan), who made it clear that where a soldier had not received definite intimation of his position he should write to the National Service Department or to the area officer for information. Kaitaia Transport, Ltd., appealed for two of its men, 8. C. Masters one of its eo-directors, now acting as manager, and its export livestock driver, S. .). Donk. Of the* original seven directors, four were on military service, and one had been in camp but bad been released for personal business and transport. The company wished to safeguard the interests of the directors in the forces, and considered that the transport needs of the district demanded that these two men be made available. The chairman of the Kaitaia floods Transport Control Commission (Mr Dykes) gave supporting evidence. Mr .1. Walsh, as one of the directors, said the handling of livestock required an extensive knowledge of the district and special care. Doaks was the senior stock operator and an expert on stock. Masters’ appeal was adjourned sine die, with service in the Home Guard. Doak's appeal was dismissed subject to appellant not being called before April I

j. c. Sutton, of Awanui, was appealed for l>v his father, F. O. Sutton. The farm of 158 acres was at Awanui aiul from SO

cows produced 17,045 lbs of fat last season. They had a contract with the services to supply 145 gallons of milk per day and a supply of cream to them and the Dairy Company. The contract called for very early milkings, and, in addition, tractor work and cropping was done by the son after the afternoon milking until dark. The son was married with three children, and had left the Railways to come back on the farm.

The appeal was adjourned sine die with Home Guard service. Decision was reserved in the appeal by E. J. Bedggood, married, with two children, a farmer at Takahue. The farm of 21S acres with 42 cows was estimated to produce 9000 lbs of fat this season. There was no assistance. Bedggood had been in the Home Guard since its inception and was a section leader and instructor. His six brothers were either in the forces or on farms. Conscientious Objectors “Do vou mean to tell me that if your wife a lid children were attacked by an enemv you would not use force to protect them?"" demanded the chairman of the hoard of A. B. Coulter, a farmer, of Fairburns, who appealed on the grounds of undue hardship and conscientious objection. ‘ I would try to overcome them with kindness,” replied appellant. ••Trv kindness on our present enemies and see how far you get," was the reply of the chairman. Coulter stated that he had been for 12 years on his farm of 197 acres that was part, of the family estate, fie milked 33 cows and over the last, two seasons had averaged between 7000 and 8000 lbs of fat. lie was married with three children, the eldest seven. He was a Seventh Day Adventist, and based his objection on his religious principles and on the commandment "Tlmu Shalt Not Kill.” 'Previous to joining the Adventist Church, IS months before, lie had been interested in the writings of Judge Rutherford. Decision was reserved. 1,, a. Haville, farmer of Peria, married, with three children, appealed on the same grounds. His farm of (174 acres ran 4.70 sheep, 200 lambs, SO bead of cattle with 24 dairy cows, and some pigs. In the last two years lie bad cropped and grassed 200 acres. He hart been a member of the Open Brethren for 14 years but had no objection to non-combatant service. "Would you object to taking life under all circumstances, no matter what they were?” asked tite board. "Not under all circumstances,” was the reply. "That’s refreshing to hear," commented the chairman. The appeal was dismissed, appellant not to be called up before April 1. Fishermen E. J. Walker, a fisherman, single, graded 3 but fit for camp details,, was appealed for by J. McLean, for Northland Canneries Ltd. Walker had been working for the company for about four years and supplied about one ton of lish weekly. A sine die decision was given, appellant to do Home Guard service. H. Parker, farmer, appealed for his son, R. Parker, and, in a prepared statement asked that his son be allowed to do three months' training after January. A recent doctor's certificate showed that the father was medically unfit to do any hut light work but he planned to give sufficient assistance to let the son off for training. The farm was one of 500 acres, hilly and broken in from bush. Ninety dairv cows last season had produced 10,500 lbs of fat. They were milking 32 this year and carried 100 head of other stock, .‘>oo ewes, 300 lambs and 100 hoggets. The only other assistance was a son unfit for military service and a daughter. The, appeal was granted. It. Parker to do three months’ service from February i to July 1. in the meantime to do service with tlie Home Guard. T. B. Matthews appealed for postponement of service to make arrangements about the farm of 729 acres he was managing for his mother. He was married with three children. The farm-was in the process of being switched over to sharemilkers but the man and his wife had both recently been ill. The farm had two cow sheds, the. sharemilker milking 80 cows that last year produced 14,000 lbs of fat, while Matthews milked a herd of 30 odd producing 4000 lbs of fat. The appeal was dismissed, appellant not to be called up before April 1. Wife Lodges Appeal •‘He didn’t think lie should appeal,” said Mrs Taylor when asked by the hoard why she had entered an appeal for her husband, C. W. Taylor, farmer, of Paranui. They had four children. They

had been on then- farm of 400 acres nine years and from practically no production, last season had returned 4853 lbs of fat from 35 cows. This year they expected between 0000 and 7000. The 200 sheep were shorn by Taylor who also helped others with shearing. Ten tons of manure had been spread by hand. The farm was well back in the hills and there was no access bridge. The four brothers were all serving in the armed forces, and Taylor had taken over one brother’s farm and the other farms had run stock. Decision was reserved. "The needs of the factory aside, I am more concerned with the dire peril of being forced to exist below the status of a Japanese coollie,” read part of a letter from G. P. Berghan general assistant at the Oruru Dairy Factory who was being appealed for by the manager, Mr Rawle, on behalf of the company. Berghan asked for an adjournment of service for nine months, that being the time stated by the naval authorities that he must wait before acceptance into the navy. The company .asked to retain his services, as they were working on a minimum staff and the loss of another hand would make the position impossible. If Berghan could be replaced the appeal would be withdrawn.

The appeal was adjourned sine die, with service in the Home Guard.

A. R. Moore asked for postponement of mobilisation until after the sitting of the university examinations. ‘‘He has been studying for the examination, so he might as well sit for it,” commented the chairman. The appeal was dismissed, appellant not to be called before January 1.

P. W. Foster, who had been in camp, but was recently released for farm duties, was appealed for by his father, who stated that his farm at Oruaiti carried 40 dairy cows and 370 mixed sheep. He had a carrier’s license, and carted cream from the district and also carted firewood. His son had been in camp in the medical corps for five months in the slack season. The case was dismissed.

I. Unkovich, single, appealed for postponement of mobilisation until the completion of the defence construction he was engaged upon. He was a truck driver and was carting metal for the P.W.D. for defence work. The appeal was dismissed, appellant not to be called before April 1. and in the meantime to be transferred to the D.E.S.C. W. E. Adams, a journeyman carpenter, and driver of a school bus. was supported in his appeal by the Mangonui School Committee. He had a school bus driving contract and conveyed children to a consolidated school. The appeal was dismissed, appellant not to be called before January 1. Ryan Bros., butchers, Kaitaia, appealed for their assistant, W. C. Horsely, married, with one child. R. Ryan stated that two brothers owned the business, one doing the slaughtering, buying and attendant duties, and the other shop work and delivering. Of two other employees, one was a farmer who assisted in the shop, and Horsely was the only experienced and trained butcher. The firm supplied town and district and a P.W.D. camp engaged ion construction work. Horsely was in

the Home Guard. The appeal was adjourned until the next sitting of the court at Kaitaia. . .. „ , . E. J. V. Dixon, through Mr. Reynolds, was appealed for by his sister-in-law. The farm was being run by Dixon for his brother serving overseas. Dixon also had an appeal on conscientious grounds, but appeared to have little idea of his responsibilities or the situation regarding appeals. "There is only one point to consider here, and that is to protect the interest of the man overseas,” said the chairman. The conscientious appeal was dismissed. On the general appeal decision was reserved. With four farms situated in the Broadwood area, and six sons, two on service, W. Grounds supported the appeal of one of the remaining four sons, J. A. Grounds, married, with two children. J. A. Grounds Stated that his farm of 280 acres at Awaroa was not suitable for dairying, but was used as a mixed holding for beef and other bullocks, run cows, dairy heifers and ewes. He was a self-taught mechanic with skill and experience and serviced milking machines and other machinery on the four family farms and for numerous neighbours. The father had large holdings of sheep and stock on his 1156-acre farm at Broadwood, and required the help of the two brothers to manage. Decision was reserved,' the board making the observation that the situation would have to be reorganised before the next review. A. J. Julian’s appeal was supported by the Primary Production Council at Hokianga. Julian, married, with three children, was a truck driver at, Broadwood, employed by his brother on cream contracts. His loss would cause dislocation of the business and hardship to farmers in the area. At the busy part of the season three trucks were used, a farmer helping with a short run between milkings. Julian was previously in the Home Guard and now in the E.P.S. The manager of the Hokianga Dairy Company stated that the company was interested in keeping up the service to the suppliers, and supported the appeal. The appeal was dismissed, appellant not to be called before May 1. Sine die adjournments with Home Guard service were granted to the following:—II. Snell, appealed for by his employer, R. Hawken. Snell was sharemilking, and he and his wife and Hawken milked 100 dairy cows on a 1500-acre farm. No other labour was available. The farm had also 1000 sheep and 400 head of run cattle. Eighty cows last season produced 16,0001b5. fat. N. M. Clifford, clerk on the staff of the Kaitaia Dairy Company, also appealed for him. Mr. L. A. Mclntosh, for the dairy company, stated that the appellant was fully occupied on a farm accountancy branch of .the company’s business, this having been started because of farmers’ demands for help in making out taxation returns. Appellant was an expert on taxation law and returns. He was quarter-master in the Home Guard. J. W. Puckey, married, with two children, said he managed his father’s farm of 2G2 acres. Of two brothers, one was overseas and the other released on indefinite leave from camp to assist on the farm. From 90 cows he estimated the season's output at 17,000 to IS.OOOIbs. fat. He was not in the Home Guard.

The Kaitaia Meat Company appealed for their slaughterman. J. E. Rice. Mr. Knightbridge. a director of the company, said that slaughtermen were difficult to get, and were not willing to come North. Price had worked for them for the past two years. He also fed pigs and would soon have to take on the droving. G. B. Wright, farmer, of Takahue, married, with one child, was supported in his appeal by Bisley and Company, by whom he was employed to service Diesel engines in the northern counties. His farm of 42 acres ran 27 dairy co\vs. some heifers and a bull. Average production over three years was 65001b5. of fat. He had assistance in the shed from a girl who helped in the iiouse as well. Considerable hay was required on the farm. His servicing occasioned him extensive travelling, as he was the only Diesel engine serviceman available and there were many Diesel engines in the district. He had been a member of the Home Guard since its inception and attended regularly at parades. J. Fell, of Kohukohu, appealed for his son, R. J. Fell, who was a partner in his garage business. Foil was married, with three children. He was an uncertificated mechanic, and the garage did extensive servicing over a large area. N. S. P. Maria, with a previous appeal adjourned sine die, appealed against general service. He had entered camp to do three months’ training, but at the urgent request of the Primary Production Council was released because of sickness in the herd. He was a farmer at Kaitaia. married. with one child. He had built up the production of the farm in two seasons from 60001bs. of fat to 13,0001b5. last year and estimated 20,0001b5. this year. He had no assistance. The homestc%ad farm was one of 197 acres, a second of 100 acres was five miles away, and a third of 100 acres 15 miles away. Of three brothers, one was overseas and two in camp. A launchman, A. A. Harris, married, with three children, was appealed for by the Hokianga Dairy Company. Ho was head launchman carrying cream to the factory and the only one capable of repairs and maintenance of launches and pontoons belonging to the company. N. H. Summerfield, married, with five children, with the eldest son now in camp, appealed against general service. His farm of 435 acres, of which a large part was bush, carried 54 cows and heifers and mixed cattle. His sheep he had sold when previously entering camp with the N.M.R., but if allowed to continue on the farm he planned to stock up again. He estimated his yield as 70001bs. this season. His son of 15 helped with the milking. During the day the appellant worked at the quarry on his property, servicing the quarry machinery. Previously his eldest son had been on the farm, but lie had turned 18 and was now in camp. J. W. Parker, farmer, of Takahue, married, with five children, stated that his farm of 151 acres, last season, with 47 cows, produced 10,5001b5. of fat. This year, with 45, he estimated getting 11,000 to 12,00f<lbs. He had no assistance on the farm, and last season had spread 11 tons of manure by hand on his own farm, and assisted other farmers with manuring. He had been in the Home Guard since its inception, and had gone into Home Guard camp in September for 10 weeks. H. E. Fell, of Kohukohu, appealed against Homo Guard service. He had given ud his own business to run a mail service i'or his father, and the hours made attendance at parades difficult. He was married with two children. The appeal was dismissed. J. F. H. Jacentho, of Mangamuka, who had been recently released from camp on indefinite leave and was recalled at short notice, appealed for an extension of leave. Major McLachlan, who had considered the ease, stated that in view of the medical grading of the appellant, and the strong case for his retention on the farm at the present time, the army offered no objection to his release, and recommended indefinite leave. It should be a condition of release that Jacentho should be required to serve in the Home Guard while on leave.