FARM LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3176, 29 August 1917, Page 5

FARM LABOUR

SUMMONING OF C 2 MEN

THE RIGHT OF APPEAL

Mr. H. J. H. Okey (Taranaki) asked in the Houso of Representatives yesterday if the Minister of Defence would arrango in connection with tho summoning lo camp of C 2 men that tlio farms should Hot be entirely stripped of labour. It would bo a very serious matter for farmers to be taken into "*reparatory camps during the summer months, when labour was most urgently required. The Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen) said that every C 2 man. who was considered by tho Special Medical Board to be lit for preparatory training would havo tho right of appeal to a military servioo board. Men whoso services were essential on the farina would havo the right of appeal, nnd would be expected to appeal. The agricultural and pastoral industries had been classed as most essontial.

A question on tho same point was asked by Mr. TV. Nosworthy (Ashburton). Hβ said that with tho calling Tip of the C 2 men it was becoming impossible to arrange to carry on farm work. Sir James Alien said that tho Efficiency Board's classification of the farming industry aa "lnostcssenflal" had been accepted by'the Government. The military service boards had been asked to observe this classification in dealing with appeals that came before thorn. If a farmer or farm worker could be replaced by a man who was not eligible for service, ho -would bo taken into tho Forces. But ho had no doubt that the boards would follow tho classification in a reasonable way.