OVERSEAS SERVICE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 22 April 1941, Page 6

OVERSEAS SERVICE

MORE APPEALS HEARD Nine further appeals against the service overseas of reservists drawn in recent ballots were heard by the Armed Forces Appeal Board when it continued its sitting in Nelson yesterday afternoon. All these appeals were by, or on behalf of farmers.

When it could be shown that a farm could not be worked efficiently without the reservist and that he could not be replaced the case was adjourned sine die, while in other appeals that were dismissed it was stipulated that appellant should not be called up before important seasonal work on which he was engaged was completed. The personnel of the board is Messrs F. F. Reid (chairman). G. M. Hall and A, H. McKane. The Crown representative is Mr E. C. Champion and the secretary Mr W. D. Baxter.

Mrs M. E. Brislane apepaled on behalf of her son, Rex Michael Brislane, aged 24, on the grounds of public interest. Brislane said he managed a farm for his mother at Dovedale. Tobacco was the chief crop and the farm ran four cows. His mother and sisters were dependent upon the returns from the farm.

The appeal was adjourned sine die. Marmaduke Rogers, farmer, appealed for his son, Edward George Rogers, on the grounds of public interest and hardship. Mr Rogers said he had a farm of about 50 acres near Richmond. He milked on an average 25 cows and had numerous side-lines. His son, aged 29 years, had worked on the farm since he left college. His son would like to serve and in the early days of the war he volunteered for service, but when he said that he was farming he had been told to go back to the farm. The appeal was adjourned sine die and Rogers was transferred to the Territorial force. Ernest Tracy Rodgers appealed on grounds of public interest and undue hardship. Mr C. C. Nash, of the National Tobacco Company was a coappellant. Appellant said he was 24 years of age. He had a brother who was a year older. They milked 10 cows, had some sheep and grew tobacco. In answer to Mr Reid he said that both were fully employed. They supported their parents. The net return from the farm was between £SO to £IOO a year. The appeal was dismissed subject to the condition that the reservist should not be called for service before Ist July. The Nelson Fruitgrowing and Development Co., Ltd., appealed for an employee. Herman Rex Williams. A representative of the company said that Williams was the firm’s only employee capable of using a strip-plough. This implement was used for cultivating the soil close to the trees. Much damage would be done to the orchard if an inexperienced worker tried to use the plough. The appeal was dismissed, but Williams is not to be called for service before Ist August. Howard Ben Stratford and his father Mr B. Stratford, appealed on the grounds of public interest. The father stated that he was a farmer at Hira. Twelve cows were being milked and there were about 200 sheep on the farm. He himself could only do light work. The appeal was adjourned sine die. N. McConochie, farmer, appealed for an employee, Bruce Bint His farm carried 2300 sheep and Bint was the only employee, said Mr McConochie. Bint had a good team of dogs, was a truck driver and shearer and was capable of doing any type of farm work. In fairness to Bint, said Mr McConochie, he was sure he would not have appealed for himself. The appeal was adjourned sine die. Stanley Richard Stringer appealed against being called for service and said that he worked on his father’s farm, which was of about 320 acres. Asked what wages he received for his work, appellant said he did not know, money did not mean anything to him. He thought he received about £2O last year. He would like to serve. The appeal was dismissed. A hop-grower, Basil Laurence Bensemann, appealed on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship. Mr C. R. Fell appeared for appellant. Appellant said he did all the work on the hop garden himself. He also did some cropping on the farm—probably from 12 to 15 acres. The appeal was adjourned sine die. Theo Otto Heine was appealed for by his father, Mr F. W. Heine. Mr H. C. Fletcher appeared for the appellant. Mr F. W. Heine said that he had another son, but he had never done farm v work and was himself going into territorial camp very shortly. The reservist, Otto Heine, had already done three months’ training in’the territorial camp. The appeal was adjourned sine die.