MANY APPEALS

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXI, Issue 8833, 14 October 1942, Page 2

MANY APPEALS

SERVICE WITH THE FORCES ARMY AND HOME GUARD BOARD’S SITTINGS IN WAIHI More than forty appeals, most of them against general service- with the Forces, but a number against service in the Home Guard, were heard by the No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board at a sitting in the Waihi Courthouse yesterday. Many of the appeals concerned farmers, on their own account, and,' in nearly every case, an adjournment sine-die was granted, provided reservist remained in his occupation ,and continued to serve in, or joined, the Home Guard. Appeals also included some made by -the Waikino and Waihi EjP.S. organisations, which sought to retain the services of personnel instructed to do duty with the Home Guard.

The chairman, Mr Edwin Edwards, presided, and associated with him were Messrs E. J. Wilton and A. H. Blackmore and the secretary, Mr A. Ripley. The board is fitting in Waihi again to-day, and will continue its sittings 'to-morrow. E.P.S. and Home Guard

Appeals against service with the Home Guard were made by the controller at Waikino of the Waihi and district E.P.S., Mr W. J. McKenzie, on behalf of the following members of his organisation, most of whom are employees of .the Martha Gold Mining Company (Waihi), Ltd., at the Waikino battery: John William Bennie, officer in charge of works and use of explosives; William Thomas Milne, electrical section; Arthur Clarence Robinson, fire-fighting section; James Eric Smith, block warden; George Edward Tonge, officer in charge of law and order section; Bertram Maurice Trinder, fire-fight-ing section; J. H. N. Watt, block warden, Waitewheta; and Arthur Henry Wells, supply and general service between Waikino and Waitewheta, including transport of schoolchildren. Mr McKenzie stated that the average age of the men serving in the Waikino branch was €o' years. The chairman said it was felt that the personnel of the Waikino E.P.S., which numbered between 48 and 50, was perhaps a little large to serve a community of. about 300- souls, and that probably a versatile team of 20' men could do the job. Moreover, it was thought that it was more essential for fit men to be members of the Home Guard than of the E.P.S. Men were needed in the Home Guard, and, with the exception of Milne and Robinson, whose eases would be adjourned sine die so long as they continued to give service in their present capacity in the E.P.S., and of Weils, in.respect of whom the appeal would be dismissed, decision would he reserved in order to enable the board .to get in touch with the commander of the Home Guard at Waikino, Captain Vincent Hollis, M.C. Stating that, as district warden for Zone 3, Waihi, he had built up what he thought' -was an efficient team; and that if he were no longer avilable the EjP.S. service in his area would suffer because of lack of leadership, Charles J. Gracey also ajfpealed against service with the Home Guard. He had, he said, no wish to evade his duty.

The appeal was supported by the deputy-controller, Mr Vryn Evans, and Captain I. T. Fallwell said the Home Guard had no objection. An adjournment sine die was granted so long- as appellant continues to serve in his present capacity in the E.P.S. 'I Case for Medical Board Undue hardship was the ground on which Robert Morgan Brunton, battery-hand, Christopher F. Burns, braceman, and Allan Banks Cameron and A. R. Cornes, miners, sought exemption from Home Guard service. All except Brunton are returned soldiers, but in Brunton’s case Captain Fallwell said he knew the shifts worked by appellant and other circumstances made service difficult. Brunton was recommended to be placed in the second division of the Guard, which entails less time at parades, and the others were recommended to apply to the Medical Board for examination in view of their statements that their physical condition would not permit of their doing a day’s work and attending parades as well. The board agreed to the withdrawal by Charles William Cantrell, platelayer, of his appeal so long as Cantrell continues to serve with the traffic police. Cantrell produced evidence to show that he had suffered since a child from bad eyesight. Adjourned until February 28, when the matter will be reconsidered, was granted in the case of Martin Francis Costello, dairy farmer on his own account, who was stated to be living seven miles from Waihi, the neareset training centre, and eight miles from a highway.

Farmers and Farm Workers Adjournments sine die, provided reservists remained in their usual occupation and continued to serve in, or joined, the Home Guard, — nearly all of them were already so serving—were granted in the cases of the following farmers, most of them working on their own account, who appealed against general service: Albert George Bradshaw; Charles C. Brady, Whangamata Road (Mr H. L. Boughton); Roy Brown, Whangamata (Mr F. C. V. Clark); Thomas Duffy, Waihi;'Frederick Durrant, Waihi-Whangamata Road (Mr Clark); Alexander Frew, Whangamata; A. R. 'P. Phillips, Whangamata-Tairua (Mr Clark); and Thomas James Gordon, Pukekauri Road (Mr Clark).