National Efficiency.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 19 October 1917, Page 3

National Efficiency.

Mr James Begg, the organiser for this district for the National Efficiency Board, writes:— 1 enclose newspaper cutting containing the statement of the Minister of Defence on the question of the last able bodied man being left on each farm. This is the clearest statement that has yet been made of the Government's intention on this point. It : s clear that it is not the Government's intention that farms shall be left idle, and while the Military Service Boards cannot be dicated to by the Govern-1 ment, they will no doubt be guided by the expressed wish of the Minister. As this is a matter vitally affecting country interests, I would like your committee to carefully watch proceedings in your district and keep me inforued of any cases in which there appears to be any risk of farms being hbandoned or left unproductive through owners or others being se"t into camp. Your committee is probably in the best position to know the particulars in each of these cases, and the information you can give will be of value.

Following iB the cutting referred

The Minister of Defence has ex* pressed in the Hou->e once or twice recently his intention to take steps to ensure that under no circumstances should the last able-bodied man be taken from any farm and sent to fight. On a previous occasion tne Minister produced correspondence to show that the policy of the Government was that the last indispensable man who could not be replaced should not be taken from a farm. He referred to the matter again to-day, and r«ad to the House the following circular letter being addressed by the secretary of the Recruiting Board to Military Service Boards:—"l am desired again to stress tne seriousness of the position nhich is arising in the dominion owing to the depletion of skilled farm workers through enlistments in the Expeditionary Force. Tne Government ~b of opionion that production must be maintained to the fullest possible extent in view of the enormous financial burden imposed on the uomtnion by the war. It is considered absolutely essential, therefore, that each farm should be left with labour to work it, and that in no case should the man who is doing the whole of the work on his own farm, or the last son on the farm of parents who are unable, through Bge or infirmity, to do the work themselves, or skilled agricultural labours be taken for military service unless, with respect to the last-named, efficient labour , is availab.e to replace them. I am, ! therefore, directed to say that the Government deems it necessary to advise your board to adjourn sine die all cases where the appellant comes within the foregoing category in or-er that be may continue in work which is now as important and essential as military j service. It is furtner recommended j that all such exemptions should be j made conditional on the reservist re- j maining in his occupation and report- ! mg to that effect tt regular intervals at the nearest Defence Office. In view of the decision of the Government that' productivity must be maintained to the 1 fullest possible extent, the Minister of Defence has decided to defer the calling up of those appellants who are due to proceed to camp with the October diaft.in order that their cases may be resubmitted to to the boards for further consideration.

Members still showed impatience with the position of affairs, and several referred tu specific cases.

Mr Okey asked the Minister to amend the Act, saying that boards would not carry out tba instruction. Even after an appeal was made the last mtn on a farm was often taken.

Sir Jameß Allen said he did not propose to have the Act amended in any way. Members should be content to leave the determination of cases to the boards, recognising that there were often two sides to a case.

Sir John Findlay: Why don't you set up that appeal board? Sir James Allen: Because I don't chink it would be the slighes-t good