MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 3332, 23 January 1918, Page 43

MILITARY SERVICE BOARD

SITTING IN DUNEDTN.

The Otago Military Servioo BoardMessrs H. Y. Widdowson, S.M. (chairman), A. D. 8011, and E, Kellett—sat in Dunedin on tho 16th. Captain Freo was the military representative. The following country cases' (amongst others) were dealt with: — Donald Fraser (farmer, Middlemarch), who had formerly been classed C2, but on B re-examination had been classed CI, appealed on tho ground of unduo hardship. He was carrying on a farm which, prior to the enlistment of his brother, was worked between them. —Adjourned sine die. Tho appeal of Ashley Burgess _ (Green Island), which had been adjourned sine die, came on again. Mr Scur pointed out that the reservist was away harvesting, and suggested that tho case be adjourned for a month to enable the man to bo present. — The appeal was formally dismissed, the reservist not to be called up until the April draft. , The appeal of Albert Brighting (sheepfarmer, Merton), which was before the board some time .ago, but which was adjourned to enable appellant to get_ a manager, was called on.—Mr Scurr pointed out that his client had not been able to get a manager to look after the place, which carried 5000 sheep besides lambs. He had tried two men, but neither had proved satisfactory.—The board decided that the appellant had shown bona fides, and therefore the case would be adjourned sine die, appellant to notify the military representative immediately ho had found a manager for his place. The .Muddy Terrace Sluicing Company (Mr Scurr) applied for an extention of leave for Robert John M'Neish, manager, in order that he might teach his successor the business.—Granted until the end of March. Joseph Moore Beattie (Ngapuna), whose appeal had been previously dismissed, came before the board again for a rehearing under section 26 of the Act, in that he was the only son left, and his father was in indifferent health.—The appellant's father, giving evidence, said that if his son went away he would have to sell his farm. His only other son was killed in action. He had no one to look after the farm.—The Chairman said' there was no evidence to show that the circumstances had altered. — Mr Payne said this son was the only surviving son, and the case clearly came within section 18 of the Act, and was one of undue hardship.—Captain.. Free said the reservist wag drawn in the fifth ballot in March last, and came before tho board in April. If, the appeal had been dismissed then this man would been away from the country three or four months later, and probably would have been in the. firing line on the date that his brother was killed. Could it be suggested that in these circumstances the appellant would have immediately returned to the dominion as the sole surviving son? Before counsel could succeed with his application he must produce new and material evidence affecting the position at or prior to the time when the appeal was finally disposed of. Subsequent events could not be relied on.—The Chairman said that, while sympathising fully with Mr Beattie, the board could not grant a rehearing of the case.—Mr Payne asked that an extension of time be granted the reservist.—The board decided to recommend that leave of absence be granted until the February draft. James M'Hardy (Sutton) applied for financial assistance. —The Chairman said that appellant had been granted extension of time and everything he had asked for on the last occasion he was before the board. They could do no more. The application for financial assistance could be made direct. John Hallum (farmer, Waikouaiti), for whom Mr Dawson appeared, appealed on the ground of xmdue hardship. He was in partnership with his father in land properties. He had a brother who was on leave from camp owing to an accident. His father could not do much work now. —In reply to Captain Free, he said that if the brother passed fit when he went back to camp, it would bo impossible for the two of them to go away, as they had five pro-, perties.—Adjourned until next sitting. Andrew P. Cowie (Hawarden, North Canterbury) applied for extension of time for Charles Henry Turner, his working manager of . Greenbraes (Kaikoura). —The board recommended that leave be granted till tho second draft in April. Lyndon H. Perry (dairy farmer, Lawyer's Head) appealed on the ground of undue hardship in that he had a large milk round, and ho was unable to- get labour. He had a partner who was a married man. Appellant worked from 3 a.m. till 9 p.m.' each day, and he could not expect men to work such long hours. —Conditional exemption was granted. William S. Christie (iarmejr, Allanton) appealed on the ground that he was tho only man on his father's farm fit to do any work, and it would be a matter of undue hardship if he were sent away.—Conditional exemption granted. Robert James Lockhcad (farm worker, Highcliff) appealed on the ground that he was the only man engaged in working a dairy farm, which was supplying milk to the Taieri and Peninsula Company.—Adjourned sine die. Albert Heard (dairy farmer. Upper Junction) appealed on the ground that he was in Class B of the Second Division.—Appeal allowed. The appeal of Walter Henry Woods (shearer) was adjourned for two months, to enable him to finish the season. Tho Military Service Board sat again on tho 17th inst. None of the appeals were of any special interest. Conditional exemption was granted to Alfred Spoor, farmer, Pine Hill: Wm. G. B. Johnston, farmer, Outram; Peter Lawson, grocer, Port Chalmers; Frederick Shaw, storekeeper, Wingatui; also to a number of seamen (on the application of tho Seamen's Union). A number of appeals on the ground of being wrongly classified were allowed. The Otacro Military Service Board— Messrs H. Y. Widdowson. S.M. (chairman), A. D. Bell, and E. Kellett.—continued its sitting in Dunedin on Friday. Captain Free was the military representative. Bishop Nevill appealed for the exemption of Ernest Street, vicar of Roxburgh. Ho was tho onlv Lawrence and Clyde.—Adjourned sine die. Messrs Grant Bros, (farmers, Outram) appealed for tho exemption of John Lindsay (Woodside), on the ground that he was the only man they had. —The appeal was dis-

missed, the reservist to go into Qamp in February. Henry Alexander Simpson (farm labourer, Maungatua) appealed on the ground of unduo hardship. He had his aged father to look after and to keep.—Adjourned sine die, to be reviewed on any change in the circumstances. Thomas Tait (saddler, Waikouaiti), for whom Mr Mooro appeared, appealed on the ground of undue hardship. If he could Bell his business ho would bo prepared to go away. He had served in the South African war. Ho had tried to get someone to take his place, but he had been unsuccessful.—ln reply to Captain Free, ho said if he was given threo months to get rid of hia stock he would do his best to get away.—He waa granted time until tho second draft m April. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Mr Oook) appealed for exemption for Charles N. Draper (auctioneer), on tho ground that his going into camp would seriously disorganise their business. The reservist had been classed 01, but from a private medical advice it was doubtful if he would stand a training. This was the first appeal brought before the board by this company. —Conditional exemption was granted. The appeal of Father Coffov for Michael Shore (theological student, Mosgiel) was adjourned sine die. Conditional exemption was granted to a motor mechanic a plumber, a blacksmith, a coal-miner, a tinsmith, a baker, an electrical engineer, and a marine and refrigerating engineer. Appeals were dismissed in the cases of a master tailor* (who had religious objections), a master painter, a fishmonger, an ironfounder, a commercial traveller, and_ two pressers. Extended leave was granted in several instances, and a number of appeals were adjourned for various reasons, including those of a coal-cutter, a watchmaker, a land agent, a cabinet-maker, a moulder, a mechanical engineer, an accountant, a baker, and a tannery hand. Exemption was granted to four men on the application of Messrs Stevenson and Cook._ During the hearing of an application for a re-examination in which an employer admitted he had not advertised, for a man to replace the one who was making tho application, Captain Free said that employers of labour, so long as they suit themselves with the men they wanted, would not go out of their way to employ an inferior man, or to pay more wages, and they thus blocked the military operations of the Crown. The board had appeals from eight plumbers, and adjourned three sine die, while the five others were adjourned. The cases of several stewards were adjourned, and also eleven other cases for various reasons. Exemption was granted in two cases, and conditional exemption in two other cases. Extension of time was granted in two instances. Three appeals were dismissed, and two who were wrongly classified granted. In an appeal by Mrs Perry, of JKaikorai, who had five sons serving, in camp, or had served, the court said the record was good, and granted exemption to the only son left if tho one about to be examined passed.