§ 12. Colonel YATEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether permission can now be given for soldiers suffering from shell shock and other convalescents in hospitals and command depots who are fit for light work to employ their leisure time, when they wish to do so, in agriculture, gardening, and 952 the cultivation of any land there may be in the neighbourhood, so as to afford the men some relief from the monotony of their existence and give them an interest in life?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONSoldiers in command depots are already employed in the cultivation of land in and about the depots. Arrangements have been made, and are being extended, by which men in hospital suffering from shell shock are employed on agricultural work, as soon as they are fit for it. As regards other convalescents, I must remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the first concern of the Army authorities is to get men fit again as quickly as possible to resume military duty; and all other considerations must be subordinate to that.