MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17132, 11 October 1917, Page 2

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

SfTTL\G IN DUNEDIN. The First Otago Military tier vice Board sat in Dunedin yesterday morning; pre-sent—Aic.-,.;rs J-i. \\ Wniduwsoii, ii.M. (chairman), A.. D. Bell, and JO. Ke.licit. Captain Free was the military representative. Edgar A. I'. Buy no (railway fireman, Dunedin) appealed on the ground of undue hardship.-- Jhe appellant stated that ho had three brothers in tho firing line and one servinjr on a troopship.—Captain Free suggested that in view of the announcement that tho Second Division might not go into camp before March, this case and cases in which the circumstances • wero similar might be adjourned for further consideration m February.—Tho appeal was adjourned until tiie February sitting.

Thomas Alexander hpratt (farmer, Sutton) appealed on the ground of undue hardship. There was also an appeal by tho lather.—Mr Jrwin said the son had asked tho father to withdraw his appeal, as ho was anxious to go. Ho was the. fourth and last son iu tho family. Two were now at tho front, and one had returned wounded. The present reservist would like to remain until January in order to help his father over the busy season. —Captain Freo said the family record was a good one.—Granted till the January draft.

Tho appeal of Ernest Miller Mlkide (plumber, JRoslyn) was adjourned until the November sitting in order that a report might bo obtained from the master plumbers of Dunedin.

Josepti Kobson (labourer, Dunedin) asked for exemption on the ground of unduo hardship, his mother being an invalid and the homo being largely dependent upon him.—Mr Irwin appeared.—After reviewing the documentary evidence before it tho board decided to adjourn the appeal sine die, any change of circumstances to be reported.

An appeal was entered by William Bnrdett Rea (bank clerk, Dunedin) on the ground of undue hardship, his mother being in a very bad state of health. One brother had been killed, and another was married and was living in the North Island.—-Mr lianlon suggested that the case might be deferred for a report from Mr Cumming.— This course was adopted. George Craig Thomson (cordial manufacturer, Dunedin), who had been classed as CI, appealed on account of his financial and business obligations.—The appellant in this case is the manager for Messrs Thomson and Co., and is carrying on that business on behalf of his mother.—ln reply to Mr Stephens, who appeared for him, appellant said his firm had supplied between 30,000 and 40,000 bottles of aerated waters to tho hospital ships, and at the request of tho military authorities it was also supplying tho camps. —Mr (Stephens: My object is to show that at the least this industry is by no means unessential.—ln reply to Captain Free, appellant said ho still had two brothers in business here. The Gore business and the grocery department in Invercargill had been closed.—Captain Free: If you wero to go would it mean closing up tho business. —No, I do not think any man is absolutely indispensable.— Mr Stephens: The question is whether your position could be filled.—Appellant: I have been trained to it all my life, and understand tho various branches of tho work.— In reply to further questions the appellant said ho was quite fit, and had no objection to go personally beyond business reasons. He had full control of the farm work as, well as the financial and manufacturing parts of the business. —The appeal was adjourned sino die, to bo reviewed upon any change of circumstances.

Alex. Robertson Smiley (boot machine operator) who, as tho result of a recent medical examination had been classed as CI, and is due in camp shortly, asked for an extension of time. There was also an appeal by Wm. M'Kinlay (Hillside), tho man's employer. Mr Adams stated that there wero domestic circumstances in this case which had induced tho reservist to ask for an extension. Ho suggested an adjournment until January, by which time perhaps a report could be obtained.—Adjourned sino die, to be subject to review at any time.—ln connection with this caso Mr Kellett drew attention to the difficult position in which the board was placed when employers said, as Mr M'Kinlay had done, that they could not undertake! to keep a man's position open for him. Such cases had to be very seriously considered.

Thomas Tomkins (Green Island) appealed for his son Thomas Gill Tomkins, on the ground that he was under age. Appellant stated that his son was only 18i years of age? Tho boy was quite willing to tro, but' appellant did not think ho should go until he reached the ago of 20, when he would let him go freely.—The appeal was allowed.

David M'Ewan (secretary of the Hotel Employees' Union) entered an appeal on behalf of Albert Gordon Trimmel. chief cook on board a hospital ship. The appellant gave evidence to show that experienced men like Trimmel were scarce and were necessary in their present occupation. —-Adjourned till the return of Trimmel's vessel to Nov/ Zealand.

Messrs Walter Foster and Co. appealed fbr Samuel White, jun. (plumber), on the ground that he was essential to their business.—Adjourned till the November sitting. An appeal was entered by George Young (Mr Tomkinson). on the ground of undue hardship. His three brothers were at .the front, and his mother was a widow with two young children. —Adjourned sino die, subject to review at any time. Tho secretary of tho Y.M.C.A. _ entered an, appeal on behalf of Alex. Gillies, who was doing tho work of the institution in Cairo, Egypt. —Adjourned sine die. George Howe Miller (farm labourer, Purakanui) appealed on the ground that he was under age.—Determination reserved

Frank Leslie Watson (Mr Lang) appealed on tho ground that lie was the sole surviving son in tho family, his only brother having been killed. —The Chairman:_ This case raises a nice point. The section of tho Act dealing with these cases is designed to meet the case of a son living with his parents. Here %ve have a son who is married, but who is still living with his parents.-rAdjourned sine die. Mr A. P. Cowie (farmer, Dunedin) appealed on behalf of Charles Henry Turner (Working manager on his run at Eaikoura). Mr Wilkinson appeared on behalf of the appellant, who wanted' to retain tho man until the end of January.—Appellant said he had taken up the property in March, but prior to that he had owned a property near Oamaru.—Granted until the end of January. ■' The adjourned appeal of Andrew James Sinclair (bootmaker, Kaikorai), for whom Mr Scurr appeared, was continued.—A report from Mr Cumminp* was before the board. —Granted until the November draft. George ■ Frasor (tinsmith and biograph operator) had his appeal, which had been adjourned for a report from Mr Gumming, further considered.—Mr Sourr, who appeared, said thaji one of appellant's brothers had been killed, one had returned to New Zealand, and two were in the forces.— 'The family record is a very fino one," remarked the chairman, in adjourning the appeal sine die. . Joseph Patrick O'Kane (contractor and carter, St. Kilda) asked for two months to wind up his business, and was granted until the December draft—Mr Scurr appeared for tho appellant. John Sutton (cabinetmaker. Dunedin) appealed on the ground of undue hardship.— Mr Scurr, instructed by Messrs Duncan and MacGregor, appeared and stated that this man had been drawn in the sixth ballot in Dannevirke and had received notice of the fact only lat-t month. His mother was a widow, and he had no brothers or sisters.— Adjourned for a report by Mr Cirmming. John Andrew Smith (farmer, Taieri) asked for time in order to got some farm work done. He had not intended to appeal, but had suffered from the recent floods. "I will'not bo sorry to get away from the place," he added.—He was granted leave until the December draft Louis Fairfax Muir (Drrnedin) asked for nn extension of time until the end of November.—Not to be called up until the December draft. Lyndon Hamilton Perry (dairy fanner, Sawyers' Bay) asked for time to secure a man to replace him. At the present time his partner was incapacitated, and ho had to do the bulk of tho milking himself and servo 160 customers.—Captain Free said the case merited some consideration. —Adjourned for three months. Richard Burgoss (farm assistant, Highclifl) asked for a rehearing or, failing thai, for an extension of leave. —Mr Scurr, who appeared. said tho circumstances on the farm had changed since the case was last before the board, one of tho assistants having left. A medical certificate showing that tho appellant was not in good health was also banded in.—Tho chairman said that on the merits of the case the appellant was not ontitlrd to any consideration, and tho board had no recommendation to make. Tho appeal of Fred Henderson (railway fireman, St. Kilda) was adjourned till tho next sitting for a report from Mr Gumming. . Appeals wero entered by fho Union Company on be-half of Georgo W. Welch, Brian G. E. Robinson, and John H. Stephens (electricians on board tho vessels of the company).—Tho assistant superintending engineer gavo evidence that thoso men wore essential, and could not bo replaced.—Mr Kellett: Is it trno that a number of cnffU neors ovar military &»•* offered thair

services to the Union Company in Part Chalmers, so that single men could bo released for service? —Witness: No; we accepted one or two men some time ago and they came, back invalids. In other cases the applicants may have been regarded as unsuitable. Continuing, witness said that Kobinson was ashore at the present time, but he was required aa a stand-by. Tho position was very acuLo when the company had only one man in reserve. —The chairman said ho did not see how this appeal could be substantiated. Ho had teen retained for the Marama, bet another man had been appointed.—Captain Free said that men of this cUi.es. were practically unprocurable, lie would make further inquiries, and if there was a surplus of this class of labour ho would have tho matter reopened.—Adjourned sine die,' subject to review at any time.—The Union Company had also entered an appeal on behalf of Frederick Jos. Tilyard, but withdrew this as the man had left tho company's employ. —The appeal was therefore dismissed. The appeal of the Union Company for Thomas Campbell (engineer) wsia further considered. Mr T. Cordock appearing for the company.—Adjourned sino die.—Tho appeals of David L. Mutton (foreman plumber), and Joseph M. Smeaton (electrical engineer), were similarly dealt with.—Krncst H. Cook (pattern maker) and Duncan J. MaoGregor (electrical engineer) were classed as C2, and their appeals were withdrawn. The appeal of Hugh Fairehild Smith (marine engineer on a hospital ship), and Aubrey Milton Lucas (marine officer on tho Karori) were dismissed, aa neither of tho appellants appeared. The following appeals by the secretary of the Seamen's Union were dealt with as. under:—Donald M'Crae (able seaman, Port Chalmers), James M'lnnoa (able seaman), Benjamin Thomas (fireman, Dunedin), and Leonard A. J. Gidiey (able seaman, Dunedin) were granted conditional exemption; the cases of George (fireman, Dunedin), Thomas Wm. Bain (seaman, Dunedin), and Wm. Balhintyno (seaman, Dunedin), were adjourned for a month. The following appeals wero formally dismissed, the appellants having been classed as C2:—J. T'orterfield (dairy farmer. Portobollo). C. Hamer (Mornington), E. M'Pherson (Port Chalmers), T. M'Taggart (NorthEast Valley), W. E. Mulholland (Fairfield), an appeal' by W. H. Christie; J. B. A. Smith (Mornington). A. Kylo (St. Kilda.), and S. C. Wright (Otago Peninsula). Samuel O Wright (farm labourer, Otago Peninsula) appealed on the ground that ho was over age, and produced his birth certificate.—Allowed The case of John George M'Kay, who had been classed as CI, and who had appeared on Monday, was re-opened. Mr A. M. Begg (the man's employer) said his position would be kept open for him whether ho was away for a long period or a short one. Mr Payne said the point of the case was that the reservist might suffer in health from going to camp and be unable to take his position when he returned. Now (hat his place was guaranteed he would be willing to go.—There was also an appeal for financial assistance in this case.— Not to be called up till ,thc November draft.

William Oonston applied for loavo for his son, Gunner Oonston, now in Feaihereton Camp.—There was no appearance of the appellant, so, the board decided to make no recommendation.