LAST MAN ON THE FARM

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9789, 12 October 1917, Page 5

LAST MAN ON THE FARM

DEFENCE MINISTER’S PROMISES. CAN THEY BE RELIED ON? “What reply can I give to the following telegram from Oamaru which lias just been placed in my hands — ‘Have boon ordered to proceed to camp next Tuesday. Can anything be demo?—L. C. Knight, Georgetown?’ ” naked Mr J. Anstey (Waitaki) of the Minister for Defence in the House of Representatives yesterday. He had brought the case before the House a day or two ago. The man was in the First Division, married, with, one child and another expected, and he had a farm of about 190 acres, of which 60 were in root crops. He had been referred by the Minister to the secretary to the Recruiting Board, and that gentleman had told him that the man would not be sent into camp till the muse had been considered again by the Appeal Board. “Can we,” asked the hon. member, “place any reliance whatever upon the Minister’s promises that the last man on the farm will not be taken away without reasonable notice? There are two or three cases of a similar natures Can I reply tha.t this promise will be kept, or are these promises to be repeatedly broken?” Sir James Allen: “The Minister’s promises will be kept. The hon. member knows that perfectly well.” ' Mr Anstey: “Ho Has not kept this promise.’' Sir James Alien said that the Minister’s secretary had promised, and the promise would be kept. There were many legitimate cases like that referred to, and some probably not legitimate. The hon. member was not playing the game. The Government wanted as many mien to go to the front as possible, but they also wanted the industries of the country to be kept goirg If the hon. member would let him have the particulars, ho would have ths matter looked into.