HC Deb 05 July 1917 vol 95 cc1306-7W
Mr. HOLMES

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will issue an Army Council Order to recruiting officers and military representatives instructing them that no more men whose regular employment is on the land shall be called to the Colours?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Telegraphic Instructions giving effect to the recent decision of the War Cabinet with regard to the calling up for military service of men employed in agriculture were issued some time ago. Detailed Instructions are in course of preparation in collaboration with the Board of Agriculture and the Scottish Office.

Sir J. SPEAR

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will arrange that soldiers who are selected for assistance in agricultural work be allowed to go back to their own farms rather than sending them to work for strangers?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I am afraid that my hon. Friend's proposal would be attended with considerable difficulty. If men were transferred only to their own part of the country, there would probably be an excess of labour in one district and a shortage in another. A man who was applied for by his late employer might already be out with another farmer, and his withdrawal would be a difficult matter. It would also lead to men being: asked for by their former employers simply because they had been put to farm work, and not because there was a real shortage of labour on the particular farm.

Sir J. SPEAR

asked if commanding officers still have power to grant temporary leave of absence to men under their command for harvest work on direct application of persons requiring assistance, or must such applications be made through the local war agricultural committees?

Mr. MACPHERSON

It is desirable that applications for individual men should come through war agricultural executive committees and instructions to this effect are about to be issued. Men, other than those in category A or those at command depots, may be granted agricultural furlough for a period not exceeding one month provided they can be spared from their military duties.