Mr. C. WASONasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the approaching harvest, he will, as far as possible, subject to military necessities, arrange that as many farm hands as are wanted to get in the crops shall have special leave?
§ Mr. FORSTERInstructions have already been issued that soldiers may be given what is called agricultural furlough on certain conditions. I will send my hon. Friend a copy of a pamphlet embodying the conditions. This pamphlet has been circulated widely both by commanding officers and also by the Board of Agriculture, but I fear that the demands of farmers for labour for the harvest cannot be fully met by the military labour which is available. Soldiers who are under orders for abroad, or are being trained for drafting abroad, can, of course, not be sent on agricultural furlough.