66. Mr. ROBINSONasked whether, in view of the shortage of labour in agricultural districts, special leave will be granted 363 to soldier agricultural labourers upon application being made for their services by their previous employers and others?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe question of granting leave for the purpose of collecting the harvest is now under consideration. All commands at home have been notified that paragraph 59 of the King's Regulations may be observed, and that soldiers may be employed in harvest work provided their employment is in the locality in which they are stationed and that their duties are not thereby interfered with.
67. Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private H. Jacklin, No. 27120, 1/5th Royal West Kent Regiment, Poona, India, has served in Mesopotamia and India nearly three years, and has had no leave since joining in 1916 under Lord Derby's scheme, though others in his regiment who joined twelve months later have been demobilised; and whether Private Jacklin can now be released and restored to his business, which awaits him?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI would refer my hon. Friend to the Memorandum recently published, in which it states that all Derby men who joined the Colours before 1st July, 1916, who are in India, will have started for home by the 1st December, if not released earlier, provided always that no unexpected trouble occurs in that country. I gather, however, that Private Jacklin is the owner of a one-man business, and his case may therefore come within the recent instructions for the release of such men. If he is not entitled to release as a Derby man, his case can be considered on business grounds if my hon. Friend will submit the necessary certified statement.