§ 41. Sir CHIOZZA MONEYasked if any representations have been made by the Board of Agriculture to the War Office on the subject of the recruiting of agricultural labourers; and if any steps have been taken, by instructing recruiting officers not to enlist any more agricultural labourers, to prevent the further reduction of our Home production of food?
§ Mr. TENNANTInstructions have been issued, after consultation with the Board of Agriculture, as to limiting the recruiting of agricultural labourers. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the circular letter addressed to commands.
§ 42. Sir CHIOZZA MONEYasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he has now ascertained that Lord Aberconway, the chairman of John Brown and Company,, of Sheffield, has publicly complained, in. a widely circulated speech, that 10,000 of his men have been recruited, and that this recruiting has injured the firm's power to produce munitions; and if he will explain why the War Office permitted this injury to occur?
§ Mr. TENNANTI have not succeeded in obtaining a copy of the speech referred to, nor can I add anything at present to the statements which have already been made on the subject of the release from the Colours of men who are skilled munition workers.
§ Sir CHIOZZA MONEYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that firms which are being pressed by the Government to make munitions of war are actually being deprived of their working men by the recruiting officers?
§ Mr. TENNANTAll I can say is, as I informed my hon. Friend in answer to a question only two or three days ago, that this firm, John Brown and Company, is one of the firms which are exempt from recruiting. That being so, it does not seem to me to be quite in consonance with the instructions that recruits should be taken from that firm.
§ Sir CHIOZZA MONEYI am sorry if I have not conveyed myself. I referred in my supplementary question to another firm who have suffered in the same way.
§ Mr. TENNANTOther firms would be different.
§ Sir CHIOZZA MONEYDoes not the right hon. Gentleman recognise the general application of this question?
§ Mr. TENNANTGeneral application is I a very difficult thing to answer. One may spread oneself at large. I am sure my hon. Friend would not desire me to do that. Therefore I do not really think that this is a question which can be answered, at Question Time.
§ Sir CHIOZZA MONEYIs it not possible for the right hon. Gentleman, on a public question of this importance, to treat this subject seriously?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe question which was asked refers to a specific firm.
§ 53. Sir CHIOZZA MONEYasked the Prime Minister if he is aware that the responsible recruiting authority has issued an official poster to the following effect: "Push and Go: It is better to Go than to be Pushed"; if he will state whether this poster is to be taken as an official intimation that the Government has decided to adopt a policy of conscription in the near future; and if it is with his sanction that the voluntary system is supported by threats?
§ Mr. TENNANTMy right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. As I have stated before, advertisements have to be framed to meet all tastes. I would add to that, they must meet all phases of inclination and intention and the most variegated forms of sense of duty. The answer to the last two parts of the question is in the negative.
§ Sir CHIOZZA MONEYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these posters are much disliked by those who support voluntary service? I would ask for a reply.
§ Mr. TENNANTI do not understand that there is any question.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTIs it not the case that the words of this poster, "It is better to Go than to be Pushed," are a correct expression of the principle involved in voluntary enlistment?
§ Mr. TENNANTThat is a matter of interpretation.