§ Colonel FABERasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will consider the desirability of posting soldiers who work on the land to the neighbourhood of their own homes, with a view both 2140W to the comfort of the man and also to saving the nation's money; and if he is aware that at present men cannot be transferred from one county to another to their own homes without a substitute being found, which is not always possible?
§ Sir R. WINFREYIt is the practice that men posted to agricultural companies for work on the land should be sent to their county of origin and employed, as far as possible, in their own districts. The transfer of men not working at present in their own county is proceeding as opportunity offers, but any general transfer without substitution would upset the fair distribution of labour, and would in many cases deprive farmers of the services of men who have been working for them for many months. New instructions as to procedure are about to be issued, which will facilitate the action desired by the hon. and gallant Member.