HC Deb 29 July 1943 vol 391 cc1773-4
51. Mr. De la Bère

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, for purposes of assisting with the harvesting this year, he will confer with the Minister of Labour so as to permit of the county war agricultural committees, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, directing the large number of employees of golf clubs with agricultural experience who are at present engaged on maintenance of the fairways, for work in connection with gathering in the harvest?

Mr. Hudson

I am already in close touch with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service about harvest labour requirements. The needs of food production have received wide publicity and I feel sure that all people in country districts—not only golf clubs and their employees—will appreciate the need for giving all the help they can. If necessary, however, I shall not hesitate to ask my right hon. Friend to direct suitable persons to undertake harvest work.

Mr. De la Bère

Can my right hon. Friend give us an assurance that he has no instructions from the Cabinet that nothing is to be done to upset the ordinary peace-time facilities of the golf clubs who employ men on the maintenance of greens and fairways? Perhaps in view of what he said yesterday he can give us an assurance on this point.