§ 31. Mr. CROOKSasked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that men of the 18th Labour Battalion, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, Sittingbourne detachment, are not being allowed draft leave, although many of the men have not seen their homes since enlistment; and whether he will give instructions that they shall have the leave usually granted before men are drafted abroad?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONEvery effort was, made to give leave to the men of this detachment who were proceeding overseas, but, unfortunately, it proved impossible to-grant it owing to military exigencies.