§ 17. Mr. RONALD McNEILLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has made further inquiry into the case of Private A. C. Downes, for whose release from the Army request was made by the s Board of Agriculture; whether he is aware that it is not correct to describe this man's father as the manager of his farm, seeing that he is the owner of it and that his son, A. C. Downes, is indispensable to the management of this farm of 1,140 acres; whether he is aware that Mr. Downes did apply for and obtained the services of soldiers and also of women to work on the land, but that this labour requires constant supervision and that for this purpose the services of A. C. Downes are indispensable; and whether he will now give immediate direction for the request of the Board of Agriculture to be complied with by the release of A. C. Downes from the Army for agriculture?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am afraid that I am not yet in a position to answer my hon. Friend. I have made further inquiries as I promised.
§ Mr. McNEILLCan the hon. Gentleman say when he will be able to give-some definite information?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI hope tomorrow or next day.