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The West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser. Thursday 21 Sep 1916
Page 4 Column 4
MEN AT DELABOLE SLATE QUARRIES
Col. WILLIAMS presided at the sitting of the County Tribunal, at Bodmin, on Tuesday, when 23 cases were dealt with.
Mr. C. A. HICKS appealed for the total exemption of Mr. Joseph HICKS, his nephew, age 25, attested, of Retallack Farm, St. Columb, head horseman, on a farm of 330 acres, chiefly arable, on the ground that he was indispensable. - Appellant had one man besides his nephew on the farm, and a brother, who was joint tenant. - No further exemption; military not to call up until October 10th.
For seven men in the employ of the Old Delabole Slate Company, Mr. J. WELLS, the managing direcor <sic>, and Mr. F. L. HAUGHTON, general manager, resisted the appeal of the military against renewal of exemption. In the case of Mr. W. T. ALLEN (28), married, it was claimed that his was expert labour, and if aken <sic> away the industry would be jeopardised. - The rural tribunal considered it in the national interest that he should continue in his occupation. He had three brothers in the army, and they granted temporary exemption until December 31st. The military could not consent to further exemption, as sufficient men of over military age were employed by the company from whom to select a substitute. - The Military Representative said the Advisory Committee said the men should go on, and the tribunal went the other way. Regarding substitutes, the Military Representative said he understood that some men from the quarry were serving in the National Defence; the question was whether they could not replace the men of military age. - The Chairman said this was a young man, and there were others with the company of greater age, and the country was demanding young men. - Mr. HAUGHTON said they would like to do all they could to help; but they were on their beam ends for rock men. He only appealed for the men for the sake of the industry. Out of the six rock men, four were classed for home defence and two for general service. - The Chairman said these men must be medically examined at Bodmin, and they would then know what was their position. - Mr. J. C. WILLIAMS: We must consider the interests of the quarry as a whole. We should know how many rock men are in the quarry, and the medical condition of these men before discussing their cases. - The Secretary said the rock men were W. T. ALLEN, A. P. DYER, J. RUSH, A. J. RICHARDS, W. H. E. BRAUND, and S. J. ARNOLD. - The Chairman: It would be more satisfactory if all these were examined, and we will adjourn their cases awaiting the result.
Mr. Wm. J. WEBBER (38), married, of De Lank Quarries, foreman hauler, was claimed as indispensable. Without him the quarries would come to a standstill, as the railway trucks had to be run over a steep and dangerous incline, and he was the only man competent to do the work. - The military authority appealed against the decision of the local tribunal of exemption to December 31st. - Adjourned for examination by Medical Board. - A similar decision was arrievd <sic> at in the case of H. NORTHCOTT, 29, married, steam engine driver, at the same quarry.