31.—(1) If no appellant appears or is represented at the hearing of an appeal, the committee may dismiss the appeal and shall, in that event, notify the appellant or appellants of the decision to dismiss the appeal.
(2) An appellant may, within 14 days from such notification or such longer period as the committee may in special circumstances allow, represent in writing to the committee that there was reasonable excuse for his absence and the committee may, if satisfied that there was such excuse, recall the said decision and appoint a further date, time and place for the hearing of the appeal, of which it shall give the parties not less than 7 days' notice.