§ Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the terms on which soldiers are allowed to work in spare time on the land are that the current rate of wages, plus 1½ per cent. to cover liability under the Workmen's Compensation Act, is payable by the farmer to the cashier of the soldiers' command, and that the amount earned is paid to the soldier less 3s. 6d. per day; whether he is aware that under these conditions, where the current rate of wages is 6d. per hour for a day of eight hours, the money actually paid to the workman amounts to ¾d. per hour, while 5¼d. is retained by the military authorities; why almost the whole of the man's earnings are thus deducted from his remuneration; and if he will take steps to rescind a Regulation which discourages soldiers from undertaking agricultural work in their spare time?
§ Mr. FORSTERYes, Sir; my attention had been drawn to this, and I hope very shortly to announce an alteration of the terms for spare-time employment.