§ 24. Captain WRIGHTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the unequal treatment by tribunals of the calling-up of agriculturists to the Colours, and the 12 consequent unequal distribution of agricultural labour in the various counties he will make representations to the War Office that until this unequal distribution has been remedied no more men bond fide engaged in agriculture in England, Scotland, and Wales shall be called up?
§ Mr. ACLANDRepresentations to the general effect indicated by the hon. and gallant Member have been made, and the general position as regards agricultural labour is being reviewed by the Board, the War Office, and other Departments concerned.
§ Captain WRIGHTCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the census recently taken has yet been sifted?
§ Mr. ACLANDNo. It is being very rapidly pressed forward, but no results of the census are yet available.
§ Captain WRIGHTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that farm labourers are now being called for rehearing before the tribunals before that census has been completed?
§ Mr. ACLANDYes. It is not unreasonable to hear a case, the result of which would not take place until after the new-year; but it would not be reasonable that persons in the exempted class should be taken into the Army before the 1st January, nor do I think they are being taken.
§ Mr. R. GWYNNEAre the Board of Agriculture represented on the local tribunals?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe Board of Agriculture have officers on or before; the local tribunals and the Appeal Tribunals to put the agricultural point of view. That has been going on for months.
§ Mr. GWYNNEMay I take it that there is no representative on the local tribunal but only on the Appeal Tribunal?
§ Mr. ACLANDBoth the local and the Appeal Tribunal.
§ 25. Sir FRANCIS BLAKEasked whether arrangements can be made whereby farmers shall have an opportunity of personally interviewing men proposed as substitutes for farm workers so that they may be able to form some idea of the suitableness of such men before they are definitely sent to the farms?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe point made by my hon. Friend that farmers shall be assured 13 of the suitability of the substitutes provided has been realised as of great importance by the War Office. It is proposed to meet it by arranging that men shall normally be returned if possible to the same farm or, at any rate, to the same parish as they came from, so that the farmer will know what work the man is accustomed to in civil life before he is asked to consent to the substitution. Agricultural representatives will also be nominated for each district to co-operate with the substitution officers in arranging each case of substitution, and this will be an additional safeguard to the farmer. I am informed also that it is not proposed to call up the man for whom the substitute is offered until after the substitute has actually arrived on the farm and begun work.