HC Deb 17 October 1918 vol 110 c320W
Sir A. WILLIAMSON

asked the Minister of National Service whether his attention has been drawn to the cases of Alexander Fraser, of Wester Limekilns, Dava, and John Cruickshank, of Wester Dreggie, Grantown-on-Spey; if he is aware that both these men are sons of widows; that they were the only men left to work their mothers' farms; and that, in the opinion of the local agricultural committee, they were both entitled to recommendation for protection vouchers; if he is aware that, owing to ignorance and misunderstanding on the part of these men, who live in remote country districts, they failed to make application for exemption and were consequently called up; and if, in view of the representations made by the agricultural executive committee for food production of Morayshire and the position of the two farms, he will recommend the release of these two men from the Colours in order that they may return to their previous occupation?

Sir A. GEDDES

These two cases have been considered by me in conjunction with a large number of equally difficult ones of the same general type. There is no doubt that in both of these cases the recruitment was legally in order. If any new facts are brought forward, I shall be very willing to give them full consideration.