§ Sir ROBERT THOMASasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that farm work in Wales is very backward, and that farmers are experiencing difficulty in carrying out ploughing and cultivation Orders imposed on them owing to an insufficient supply of efficient labour; and whether he will bring pressure to bear on the War Office to waive the Army Order XIV., of 1919, in so far as it affects agricultural labourers, so that the necessary men may be obtained with the least possible delay?
Sir ARTHUR BOSCAWENI am aware that farm work in Wales and elsewhere is very backward owing to the in sufficiency of the labour supply. Application has been made by the Board of Agriculture to the Department of Demobilisation and Resettlement, through whom such demands must be made, for the release of agriculturists who are retained in the Army of Occupation under Army Order XIV. The Department replied that it could not see its way to recommend to the War Office that an exception to the general rule should be made in the case of any one industry.