MEN FOR FARMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 246, 5 July 1918, Page 8

MEN FOR FARMS

AND MILITARY SERVICE POLICY OF GOVERNMENT e ' •' | i- A staieuiGiit was m;ide by the Acting- I > Prime Minister yesterday oil mtiu-powur i a and food' pmductian. s "It has been represented to me (stated i- Sir James Allen) that tho policy of tiio s Government with respect to the maintene once of production mid the exemption 0 ot farmer reservists for this purpose is s not clearly understood in all portions of 1 the Dominion. I desire, therefore, to rer state the conclusions recently arrived at g on this and kindred subjects and comr municated to the several military serr vice boards for their information anil i guidance in dealing with appeals. - Tho Government is of opinion that p 13 absolutely essential that produce lion shoul<l be ronintaimid ns Marly n.s - possible at the present standard in or- , ner to safeguard the finance of the Do- > minion. This is of paramount import--1 ance. We are being called upon to face - an enormous and ever-growing war ex--5 penditure, and we must maintain to tho 3 fullest possible extent the only source of l our finances. _ As a necessary corollary - to this decision, therefore, the Govern--3 in en t. has recommended that the. last man 1 should be retained on each farm, pro--1 vulcd, of course, that the Military Seri vice Board considers, after full iiivesti- - gation.that his retention is essential to maintain production, and that, he cannot be replaced, and provided further wuit i)either by subdivision of farms nor by any other means shall there be evasion. Ihe position with respect to appeals of reservists. therefore, is that each case is to bo decided on its . merits, the Military Service Board in aniving at a determination being uuided by the opinion of the Government that no tanner 6hould be called up for military service if his removal will imperil : the maintenance of production. "The position ac _to wheat growing was also fully considered, and it was deemed expedient in the public interest (kit the Dominion should produce, if , possible, sufficient cereals for the year's consumption and needs. The military ' service boards have been accordingly ndv-scd to particularly consider the exemption of teamsters, and. if snti?fi°d , H' nt ' S'leh teamsters will be used for the Purpose of wheat growing, to grant ■ them leave sine die. imposing at" the same time a condition thai these remust in wheat produc- , tion while so exempted,"