Need for Maintaining Production

Waikato Independent, Volume XLI, Issue 3892, 15 August 1941, Page 1

Need for Maintaining Production

APPEALS HEAIM) MEN'FOR OVERSEAS SERVICE BOARD SITS at CAMBRIDGE Appeals against service overseas were heard in Cambridge on Wednesday by the No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board, practically all of the cases being in connection with farm workers. Where adjournments were granted, the reservists were transferred to the Territorials for training, or ordered to join the Home 'Guard. The members of the board were: Messrs S. L. Paterson, S.M. (chairman),/A. E. Manning, R. Coulter, G. Grace (secretary). The Crown representative, Mr J. 1). Seymour, was also present. Valentine Thomas Prcece and Alexander Charles Watt were appealed for by the Bruntwood Cooperative Dairy Company, Limitedi The manager, Mr G. I. Peebles, said that both were qualified cheesemakers, Preece having been with the company five years and Watt four years. There would be 20 additional suppliers at the factory this season when shifts would be worked. Nine extra men were required, but so far these bad not been procurable. Both cases were adjourned sine die, and reservists will be transferred to the Territorials for training at suitable periods.

Volunteered in 1939. The appeal of Stephen Peter Priestley for his son, Thomas Albert Priestley, was adjourned sine due. Reservist and his father were sharemilking for Mr R. D. Fisher, at Pukerimu, milking 180 cows, it was stated. The son had volunteered in September, 1939, but turned down owing to a head injury. In view of that a sharemilking contract was taken up. Reservist was then called in the ballot and passed as fit. He had been farming all his life. An adjournment sine die was granted, and reservist must join the Home Guard. The fact that he was not trying to shelter his son under a sharemilking job was pointed out to the board by Joseph Henry Sulton in appealing for Garnett Henry Raymond Sutton. He added that one son was at Papakura Camp, and if they took the other, they might as well take the appellant. He would not be able to carry on as a sharemilker. The appeal was one which was being reviewed, and a further adjournment was granted, provided reservist joins the Home Guard. Sharemilkers Suggested The possibility of employing sharemilkers to relieve single men for service was pointed out by the hoard when Leslie Alexander Duncan, a farmer, of Roto-o-rangi, appealed on behalf of Robert Edward Smith and George McClymont. Appellant and the two reservists farmed 177 acres, milking 135 cows and raising ' considerable stock. Milk was supplied for cheese and would have to be delivered twice a day. To the board, appellant said that there was no accommodation on the farm for sharemilkers. The appeals were adjourned sine die and will he reviewed in February, by which time the appellant will be expected to have made arrangements to release the men. “These obligations were undertaken after the outbreak of war and the introduction of conscription, and do not come into undue hardship,” said Mr Paterson, during the bearing of the appeal of Cyril Alfred Keeyes, a farmer. Appellant said fhat this year be and two single brothers bought a farm at Puketaha and were milking ICO cows, prior to that they had been sharemilking in the Cambridge district. The two brothers were unfit for overseas service. The appeal was dismissed, but reservist will not be called up before October 1. The appeal of John Searle, a farmer, of Kaipaki. for bis son, Edward Searle, was adjourned sine die and reservist was transferred to the Territorials for training. Appellant said he had three sons. One son was at Papakura Camp training for overseas service, a younger son having come home to enable him to go. The farm consisted of 155 acres and the boys owned 50 acres adjoining. Two sons and himself

were necessary to carry on. The Director of National Service appealed for Edmund Pcnhcliick Hicks, a farm manager, of Horahora. Mrs E. J). Hicks, a widow, said that reservist was her brother-in-law and managed the farm for her. He was 41 years of age. She had a son who would be 21 in January and liable for overseas service. A younger son, aged 15, bad come home from school to enable the elder boy to go to Waiouru for three months. The farm consisted of 104 acres and carried 70 cows and 170 ewes. An adjournment sine die was granted and the appeal will be reviewed in February. The Director appealed also for George Arthur' Trow, farm-hand, of Maungatautari. Reservist’s father said that two sons had been called in the ballot. One son had not been appealed for, and he could carry on with the other, assisted by his daughter. Reservist might be released also next May. An adjournment sine die was granted and the position will be reviewed later. Formerly in Army The appeal of Arthur Bennetts Truscott for his son, Gordon James Truscott, was adjourned sine die and will be reviewed in February. Appellant said that his son had been in the army prior to the war, but was told that his place was on a farm. A change over was being made from butter to cheese. An adjournment sine die was granted in the appeal of Herbert James Neely, a farmer, of Pukekura. Appellant said that with the help of one married man, 90 cows were milked on 118 acres. The butterfat returns had beep 29,8421b5. fat last season. The farm was not large enough for sharemilkers. Appellant was instructed to continue in the Home Guard. - Mervyn St. John Wells appealed for his sharemilker, James Richard Godrig Witty. Appellant, who appeared in uniform, said he was a member of the Coastal Command. He asked that reservist be exempt from service until the end of the present dairying season at least. An adjournment sine die was granted, reservist being instructed to join the Home Guard.

An appeal by the Director of National Service for William Ernest Yorfcc was adjourned sine die and wili be reviewed in February. He must join the Home Guard. Frederick Spyve, a sharemilker, of Bruntwood, said that Yorke was one of three men milking 170 cows. Appeal Dismissed The appeal of F. W. Johnstone for Eric Henry Johnstone, which had been adjourned from the last sitting to enable the board to make further enquiries, was dismised. The board pointed out that sharemilkers had been on the farm and were prepared to carry on this season. However. tlie services of the sharemilkers had been dispensed with. George Harold Worms, milk vendor, appealed on behalf of Trevor Albert John Anderson, a roundsman. Appellant said that as well as a large private round, he had contracts to supply milk to the schools in the district and also to the military camp. Anderson commenced work at 4.15 a.m. each morning. He could find no one to replace him. An adjournment sine die was granted. Appeal Lodged Too Late An appeal on behalf of Noel Lewis While was lodged by Oswald A. While, engineer. Appellant admitted that his had been lodged after the specified time. He stated that all his work was on farms, and this was the busiest lime of the year. The appeal was struck out for want of jurisdiction, but with a recommendation that reservist is not called up before November 1. William Henry Woolley appealed on behalf of his son, Maurice Woollev. Appellant slated that he owned a grocery business which consisted of two adjoining shops. Owing to ill-health, lie had to give up shop work,-and take a position as a book-keeper. His son managed the business with the help of appellant’s wife and a brother who had Josi one arm in Hie last war. If his health improved he was prepared to go back to the shop and release bis son. The appeal was dismissed bid reservist will not be called up liefore October l.