LAST MAN ON A FARM

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 10, 6 October 1917, Page 6

LAST MAN ON A FARM

TSTE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY

A few days ago the Prime Minister promised, the House that a statement would be made by himself or the Defence Minister, ae to the policy of the Government regai-ainff Hie taldn» of the last nan from a farm. Members of ■■ (Hβ House bail complained that some military wtvi"e boards had refused to exempt men tv*o were carrying-on'their own farms. ~ir James Allen yesterday made a long and very full statement of the swpjj taken by the Government to ensure that 'no man'ori' whom the'maintenance of a farm nt full production depended should be taken. He read a "published circular of the Recruiting Board of date March 12 and several circulars to military service boards, and the military representatives appearing before boards. ■ The public circular urged farmers to appeal to Veep such men, and in tlie communications to military service ' boards it-..was made clear that the.Government wished that these, men should bo given exemption or that their appeals should he a«l« nourned sine die. The opinion of the Government was most, strenuously nrned —that it was not in the interests of tne country that a lrnm should have to leave lii-i fnrm vmtended. . .. Several members, by interjections and Questions, stated that many military service boards had not obeyed the wernmenfs instructions, and. the Minister nsited them tosupplyJuin with particulars of cases. • ™ ' ..