§ Mr. PROTHEROasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the case of soldiers who have recovered from wounds or sickness sufficiently to be classed as fit for light duties, he will consider the advisability of employing them for one month or more in agricultural work during hay time and harvest, seeing that such employment would be more beneficial to the men and more useful to the community than occupying them in the exercises of route marches, leaping, skipping, ball games, cross-country running, hurdle-racing, and digging, which are prescribed in Army Council Instruction No. 450, of 1916.
§ Mr. FORSTERMy hon. Friend will doubtless agree that the main object is1346W to get men fit for military duties as soon as possible. In command depots massage and other forms of medical treatment are used in combination with the exercises referred to in the Army Council Instruction quoted. The military and medical authorities are in agreement that the men would not get fit so quickly if they were taken away from the direct supervision of the military authorities. In these circumstances the Council do not see their way to adopt the suggestion in the question.