§ 60. Mr. JOWETTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that the Cheshire War Agricultural Committee have withdrawn their protection from seven of the branch officers of the National Farm and Dairy Workers who took an active part in a recent strike, including in this action a president of the union, who is an experienced ploughman employed on a farm which has twelve men less to work it to-day than it had prior to the War, notwithstanding the fact that 30 additional acres have been ploughed; and if he will make it clear to all concerned that the Military Service Acts are not to be used for the purpose of victimising agricultural workers on account of labour disputes?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Richard Winfrey)The Cheshire War-Agricultural Committee possess no powers to withdraw or to give protection to agricultural workers whose exemption from service has been cancelled by the Royal Proclamation. If the hon. Member will provide me with particulars of the cases of victimisation which he alleges to have taken place I will have specific inquiries made and the results communicated to him.