MILITARY APPEAL BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 3280, 24 January 1917, Page 16

MILITARY APPEAL BOARD

SITTING AT ROXBURGH. (Fno:i Oub Special RisroßTßß.) ROXBURGH. January 19. Tho Military Service Board sat this afternoon. Joseph Cruickshank (45 years old) appealed on the ground oi public interest. He took exception to being called a rabbiter. He stated his occupation was that of clearing ground of rabbits, and said he wanted to stress the point that his appeal was an isolated case, tiic reason being that he claimed to have introduced special methods, .which were thoroughly effective, so that he was increasing tho primary products and also releasing men. (Jross-examined by Captain Free, appellant emphatically denied taking up an antagonistic attitude to the war. His expressions were quite otherwise. He had come to the conclusion that he was of more service to tho country here than if he went to the front. He refused on one occasion to contribute to war funds. He had not contributed to patriotic objects. T. A. Pannett, appellant's employer, put in a statement showing tho appellant's value as a rabbiter. None of his rabbiters had enlisted. The appeal was dismissed. Charles Greenslado and James David Haugh did not appear, and their appeals were dismissed. John Richards (stock agent and auctioneer for Todd Bros, and Co., Roxburgh branch) appealed for time allowance on account of the firm's interest. There was no appeal on the employers' side. To Captain Free, the appellant admitted that the firm might make no real loss if appellant went at once. They would, however, suffer inconvenience. The appeal was dismissed. Conditional exemption was granted in tho appeal of William Gordon Harris (sheep farmer), the chairman saying the appellant seemed to have sufficient troubles already. Richard Toms appealed on the ground of hardship! being necessary on an orchard and supporting his mother and sisters. Tho appellant had a brother killed in action, a brother a widower, with three children, was also an orchardist, and lived a mile away. To the Chairman, appellant said nothing had caused him more worry than not being able to enlist. He wished the two places could be pooled, but he could not see any way of doing it. J. Bennetts stated that tho appellant's orchard had been very badly hit by the recent hailstorm and Hooding, and would take a great deal of money to put it right. Tho appellant was an expert fruit-grower, and did two men's work. Witness considered it essential that tho appellant should remain. Conditional exemption was granted. SECTION 35 CASES. Three brothers —-George Edward, Robert John, and William James Richardf.cn —appealed. George and Richard are partners Jn a leasehold pastoral farm of 11C0 acres, with three years to run. Robert works on tho farm. Another brother is in a motor garage. For all practicable purposes it was eiown that the property was a family one, iving belonged to tho father, and the leaso being from tho Public- Irusteo. Thoro are six sisters. Tho members of the family are equal beneficiaries under tho will. Captain Free stated that tho three appellants had been examined and classed B. ,ttobcrt John pleaded bad eyesight. Tho appcal i.-f Hubert was dismissed, also that of Willi.mi, with a proviso that the appellant Iras not to bo called up till March 51. Con-

ditional exemption was given in the appeal • of George. j George, Edward, and W T illiam Haughton, I brothers, showed their family circumstances to be such that the board realised that one must stay. The appellants, through their counsel, showed that the brothers were agreed that if William, on being examined, passed as fit he was willing to go. George had already been passed fit, and was taking up his burden, but if William failed to pass George would go. The board rescr\'ed # its I decision, pending the result of the examina- ! tion of William, conditional exemption to be i given to the brother remaining. i Decision in the appeal of Richard : Tamblyn (Coal Creek Flat, orchardist and i sheep "farmer) was adjourned pending in- ! quiry regarding the permanent unfitness of the only other brother of military age in the first division, in which case the appellant goes to the ballot. Charles Greenslado and James Alexander Gcddes did not appear, and their appeals were dismissed. Thomas Kearney, medically classed B. withdrew his appeal, as also did Bernard O'Kane, classed D. SITTING AT ALEXANDRA. ALEXANDRA, January 20. ; Tho Military Appeal Board sat to-day at : Alexandra. ; Allan Crombie, runholder, Bannockburn, appealed on tho grounds of hardship. | The evidence showed that he was the only man on his run. He had never enlisted, and was married last year. His brother had £IOO in tho place, but was not in active partnership. The appeal was adjourned till next sitting, appellant to bo medically examined meanwhile. Donald M'Donald, farmer, Poolburn, appealed on tho grounds of hardship. His mother also had a farm, and appellant looked after his mother and sister. Tho appeal was adjourned for a month, appellant to see if he could not make arrangements. In the appeal of Ernest Derrick Alfred Freoso, of Becks, it was shown that appellant's father was a German, and his mother, an English woman, had died in childbirth. His father re-married, and appellant was sent to Germany and broupht up there till his manhood. Appellant said his sympathies wore with tho Allies. Ho had relatives fighting on both sides. The appeal was dismissed, but it was recommended that appellant be discharged by the commandant or restricted to home service. Thos. Flaimery, jun., Moa Creole, who asked for time for thrashing- and selling lambs, and thus reducing his mortgage, was given to April 1. j Tho appeal of Thos. Francis Moran, Lau- ! dor, was dismissed, appellant not to be called up till April 1. i Appellant said ho intended to sell off. The appeal of John Corrigall, farm manager, OmaKau, was dismissed, appellant not to be called up till April 1. His father, who was appellant's employer, also appealed on his behalf. Tho father had a dis abled hand. The appeal of John Rcid, clerk of court. Cromwell, who was married last .rear, and had never volunteered, was dismissed, aDpollant not to bo called up till March 1 to onablo him to make arrangements. i Tho appeals of William Alexandra Bed kin (solicitor), Hugh Fred Wilson Shaw (shepherd, Poolburn), Thos. Linton Smith (application for time) were withdrawn. The appeals of Georgo Albort Manson,

Bannockburn, in partnership with C. Holloway, also subject to tho ballot; Robert Hewitt, draper, Alexandra, the sole support of his widowed mother; William John Gallagher, Omakau; James Black, farmer, Ida Valley, were adjourned for medical examination. ] The appeals of Isaac Taylor, runholder, • Hawea Flat; James Brown Graham, storeman, Bannockburn; Robert Augustus Phillips, Tarras, were allowed, appellants proving that they were over age. I The appeals of Lawrence Smith, farm labourer, Bannockburn; James William Nevill, and Thomas Wickens were adjourned in the absence of appellants. The appeal of William Thomas, butcher, Omakau. on the ground of deafness, was dismissed. SITTING AT NASEBY. NASEBY, January 22. The Military Service Board sat to-day at Naseby. William O'Dowd (St. Bathans) asked for an adjournment indefinitely on the ground : that he was supporting his father, 81 years I old, frail, and in very poor health, also two i sisters, one ailing. Appellant had one 1 brother, a labourer, married, with a family of four. To Captain Free, appellant said all '. his earnings went into the house. Captain Free suggested a postponement for a month, as the case was one that might come under the new regulations. The appeal was adjourned sine die, tho appellant to report from time to time on the position of his affairs, i Charles Fredk. Harrex (Oturehua), holder of a small grazing run in conjunction with a brother at Poolburn, asked to be given till the end of May. Harvesting would be completed at the end of the month, but the sheep had to be seen to, and the rabbits got rid of. It was, he said, rabbit-in-fested country, and it was a difficult matter to get rabbiters. The appellant* also had to do with his father's place. Captain Free suggested that the appellant could get away at once.. The appellant replied that ho would like a little time. Captain Free said there would be no medical examination in the district till the middle of February, and the appellant could not get away before the end of that month. The appeal wni dismissed, the Chairman explaining that it meant the appellant had till March I 1 - | Albert Henry Wilson (Oturehua), totally ' blind, withdrew his appeal. I William Joseph Williamson, working on | his father's sheep rnn at Kokonga (1700 sheep and 600 lambs, but no crop), appealed on the ground of hardship. His father had been troubled with his health for the last eight years. There were nine sons, one at the front and one going next month. The rest were working on land of their . own. I.*'ive wore single and four marrii d. Alex. B. Mann. chairman, Maniototo County Council, voluntarily gave evidence. The appellant had enlisted last February, but his father got him to withdraw his application, which was granted. The father could not possibly do without him. The father had had to leave tho district for a time for tho sake of his health. Witness had known of the appellant's father being picked up and taken homo unconscious. Thar had happened on several occasions. Captain Free stressed the point that the property was small, and that only one son had gone out of nine. Another had enlisted, knowing the ballot would catch him | sooner or later. Men had to make big i sacrifice;; if tho war was to be carried to

a triumphant conclusion. The Chairman said the board did not consider tho case ono that called for special exemption. The appeal was dismissed. Jas. Pollinger (farmer, Ranfurly), working for his mother and sisters on a farm, appealed on tho ground of hardship, A brother at Middlemarch was trying to sell his property for tho sake of enlisting without a sign of success. Tho brother wanted to onlist. Tho Chairman asked why the brother had not enlisted before taking tho farm up, and tho appellant replied that at tho time the shortage of men was not serious. Conditional exemption was granted. Tho appeal of Archibald Dow (farm labourer), an application for time over the harvest, was formally dismissed, tho appellant having till March in any case, which was all that was asked. George Armitage (farmer, Blackstone Hill) appealed on the ground of hardship. 11 is father, Henry Armitage, Dunedin, abo entered an appeal, owing to having suffered certain injury. He had been operated on and was afraid he would have to be operated on again, lie had left the farm (about 2000 acres) in his son's hands. He could not himself do anything. Of live sons, one had been killed at the front. Tho eldest, who had been managing the property, had gone with the 18th Reinforcements. Another had property of his own, nnd a fourth, who had volunteered for the 25th, had not been medically examined or received notice to go. The Chairman said the board considered tho family had done very well, and its determination was reserved, ponding an examination of the volunteer son. on tho understanding that if he was fit he would go, and if not that tho appellant should go. Tho father expressed entire accordance, and tho appellant said ho would go, which evoked applause from tho back of the court. Tho appeal of John "Ross Peterson, holder of a small grazing run, was adjourned, pending medical examination. Hugh Baxter (agricultural labourer and shearer, Hyde), called up under clause 35. did not appear, and the appeal was dismissed. CANTERBURY. GREYMOUTH, January 16. Race trains were referred to in dealing with appeals hero before the Canterbury, Military Service Board. Mr Hessell, traffa clerk, instructed by the General Manager of Railways, asked the board for exemption for local railway servants on tho ground that they were required to efficiently carry on the work of tho railways. The Westlanci section had had 13 firemen training for positions as drivers, 10 of whom had enlisted and gone to tho front, and clean,:-<3 had been moved up in their places. There wore only three boilormakers in tho Westland section. They were indispensable. Their work on the "West Coast railways was of an absolutely essential nature. The Chairman (Mr Evans, S.M.) remarked that at least two appeal boards had spoken •adversely in regard to race trains. He asked" if such trains affected the work of the West Coast staffs. Mr Hessell replied that the railways here carried principally coal and timber. Last year tho local lines carried two tons of minerals for every one passenger, whilst the timber hauled amounted to over 51.000.000 feet. It was impossiblo to reduce the staff further without impairing the efficiency of tho service. The Chairman remarked that the board would not presume to dictate to tho management how to run its business, but whilst not going so far as to express an opinion that race trains should be abolished, the board held that sports generally, where they entailed extra work by eligible men and unproductive expenditure, as well as waste of time and money, should bo curtailed. Race trains appeared to have an unimportant bearing on railway men in regard to the ballot on the West Coast. All tho railway appeals so far dealt with have been adjourned sine die. GISBOENE SITTINGS. GitfßCiO.'Ji January 22. The Military Service Board sat co-day, when 22 cases were heard. Two appeals on the ground that the appellants were over age were upheld. A somewhat unusual was that of Thomacs Percy Home, station manager, of Tolago Bay. His employer (Mr Jb\ J. Lysnar) appealed on the grounds of public interest and undue hardship. Mr Burnarct appeared for the employer, and said that Home had gone into camp. Tho Chairman said ho did not think anything could be done now in the matter. Mr Burnard said that the employee was under tho impression that he had to report himself. He ditl not know that his employer had lodged an appeal. Captain Walker eaid that there was an application from Home to withdraw tho appeal. Tho case was dismissed. William John Simpkin, Church of England clergyman, of Wairoa, appealed on the grounds of public interest. Archdeacon Williams appealed on behalf of the bishop of tho diocese, and said he was acquainted with tho appellant, 'who had been ordained a minister of tho Church of England. He was in charge of Wairoa, and had boon since Easter, 1911. Ho was about 39 or 40 years of age. 'Tho Chairman said that ho had received a certificate, dated December 30, 1916. from tho Minister of Dfifenon to tho effect that the calling up of appellant would be contrary to public interest. The appeal would bo allowed. APPEAL BOARD JUSTICE. TO THE EDITOR. SlB, —In connection with my son's appeal to the Military Service Board I wish to draw attention to the followin? paragraphs : —.First, the evidence and nature of his occupation showed he was away a week at. a time. "Tho best thing the parents could do was to sfot someone else to look after them. Had tho son been doing his duty the board would certainly have left, him." In answer to the first, I, his father, was present. and called attention to statements made concerning my son that were not corroe*. and as ho only went up to '■it for his en-gine-driver's certificate on May 1. 1916. and only received it about the middle of that month, the thrashing was practically done, and he has never becn_ out of the house a w.'cfc p.* a time owing to that. James Main, of Waiwora, was the enginedriver last season, and my son procured a motor cycle so that lie could como home, as ho did practically every night. Ho has only been absent a week, while attending the" military camps. Second: I receive lis charitable aid with which to keep my wife nnd myself. My store accounts can be produced to show that

it takes all that, and then only by carefulness does it keep us in food only at tho present prices of food. I cannot get help, either should we under tho circumstances be asked to. My son is all wo have, no other relations nro near us, and as to doing his duty, he has dono so and more, for in order to be hero to assist us, he has, as can be proved, refused good billets elsewhere for that reason. What a correspondent of the sth inst. wrote, that tho Appeal Board was a farce, is only too true. Anyone can fee that on attending as I did yesterday. Tho appellant is hardiy allowed time to answer questions—everything is cut and dried before tho case starts seemingly. My son has had all along since I have been laid aside, three years and more now, to provide everything outside of the lis aid. Wo receive no other help, and now my wife is also in precarious health, and his assistance to us was indesponsable. It also seemed a surprise to the board to find that my son had enlisted nearly three months ago, and was found to be medically unfit. lie handed up* his certificate to tho bench to prove this, and it was not returned to him. My son is not strong; indeed, no one ever thought we would rear him, and doctors' certificates can be produced to prove this, years before ever the war started. He was not able to attend the public, school after he had a serious illness ending up with Bright's disease, and we had to have him privately taught. My wife's health is giving way with the worry, and this is the treatment we are to receive in what they call "A free country."—l am, etc., Peteb Traill. P.S. —T may also mention my son has been doing good work hero, ho being drill instructor for some time, without remuneration— P. T. ' Waiwera South, January IS.