§ Mr. ROYCEasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the serious shortage of labour for the hay and corn harvests, whereby the successful gathering in of the crops is gravely endangered, he is prepared to grant adequate periods of harvest furlough to agriculturists now with the Colours on application by county agricultural committees?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAs I stated yesterday, the question of granting leave for the purpose of collecting the harvest is now under consideration. All commands at home have been notified that paragraph 59 of the King's Regulations may be observed and that soldiers may be employed in harvest work, provided their employment is in the locality in which they are stationed and that their duties are not thereby interfered with.