BRITISH FOOD CONTROL DEPARTMENT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3159, 10 August 1917, Page 5

BRITISH FOOD CONTROL DEPARTMENT

WHY CAPTAIN 31THTJRST RESIGNED. Captain Bathurst recently, tendered hia resignation of the Parliamentary Secretaryship of tho Ministry of Food. He had been suffering from overwork and had had a serious warning from hismedical adviser. Captain Bathursfs retirement from the arduous position he has 'filled with so much energy, ability, and good humour will—writes tho Parliament-, ttt-y correspondent of fne "Morning Post" —be regretted by members of all partiei in the Houso of Commons, while the deepest sympathy will be aroused by the cause of his withdrawal. Of the younger members of Mr. Lloyd George's Ministry, none has acquitted himself better thnlj. the spokesman of the jliinistry of Food in the House of Commons. Representing a Department which has inevitably beoli. the target of much criticism, Captain Bathurst has been uniformly courteous, tactful, and firm, while his occasional Hashes of humour have silenced many a guirablcr and delighted every auditor. Ho has been a tremendous worker. Whoii the war broke out he rejoined his old corps (the Royal Engineers Special lieserve), in which he had obtained his captaincy nineteen years ago. In April, 1915, ho was appointed Military Sccretary to General Sir Arthur Paget, commanding tho Salisbury Training Centre tor the New Army, and subsequently he became Military Secretary to General Sir Henry Sclater, commanding tho South* em Command. He was also in ; 1313 Chairman (during its jubilee year) of tin. Central Chamber of Agriculture. In April, 191G, ho undertook, at the request of tho Government, tho post of Organiser of tho Government Land Settlement, Scheme for ex-Sorvico men.—a position winch ho ouly quitted to join tho Government in Decomber, 1916, as Parliamentary Secretary to fne Ministry _of Food. He has accepted no remuneration for either of his Government posts. Iho sole reason wny ho asks to Tie relieved of his present office after 21 years' continuous work of a specially exacting character, without any respite or holiday, i 3 that ho is suffering from a temporary breakdown in health.