FARMERS AND MILITARY SERVICE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16274, 26 July 1918, Page 7

FARMERS AND MILITARY SERVICE.

THE POSITION IN CANADA. (FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) TORONTO, May 31. Tho greatest delegation, in numbers, that ever visited tho capital was the deputation of farmers from Ontario and Quebec, chiefly, who waited on the Government on tho I4th inst., to ask for relaxation of the Military Service regulations as applied to farmers, in order to secure greater production, and claiming tho adherence to the promise made some months ago that farmers would not be conscripted The deputation numbered fivo ■ thousand, ine Premier, Sir Robert L. Borden, tola them firmly, though courteously, that no relaxation in favour of farmers was possible, and reminded them of the solemn covenant and pledgo made to tho men in tho trenches that Canada would back them up with the necessary reinforcements. He said that tno former promise had been made wit" tho best interests of the country in view, as they then appeared; but that the Military Service Act regulations, the Order-in-Council recently promulgated cancelling all exemptions and calling up men of 20, 21, and 22 years of age, had been made with the best interests of the country, in view sis they are seen now. The need for production was no less than before, but the urgent demand for men was greater than ever,' and that was the paramount need now. Of what use would it be to tell the men who might come back, that we increased our production, if our lino -was weakened at the front? Of what use would be tho farmers' grain, if the enemy reached the sea coast? The general comment of the Press upon Sir Robert's reply to tho farmers' plea for exemption has been commendatory of his firm stand, and approving the attitude he has taken. The farmers have not helped themselves much in general estimation of the rest of tho people by their constant protests and condemnatory resolutions, seeking to have their sons and their farm labourers exempt from military service, lyhilo all other classes have to contribute their share,-no matter how necessary their industries and businesses. However, after they received their answer, they assumed an attitude of intention to bend to the will of the Government, though somewhat resentfully, and they left behind in the Capital a committee to draw up resolutions expressing their dissatisfaction.

But those men who went to Ottawa do not represent the entire body of opinion of the farming community, oven, in Ontario and Quebec; there is a con- I siderable proportion of farmers are I quite ready to give military service or send their sons .or hired men, and do ! the best they can with the boys from the High Schools and Collegiate Institutes ("Sons of the Soil" movement), ( girls, women, and men from the urban communities, especially men brought up on farms or with farming experience, large numbers of every one of theso classes being already enlisted to help, and more promised. Furthermore, the executive of the United Farmers of Alberta, meeting at Calgary, on the day preceding the visit/ of the deputation' to Ottawa, expressed in a strong resolution unqualified endorsation of the action of the Dominion Government in cancelling the exemptions of the 20, 21, and 22-year-old men, feeling it would not have taken such a step vnless the need for men was urgent and imperative, recognising the fairness of the order embracing all classes and occupations, and while admitting that there would undoubtedly be some decrease in production as a Jesuit, the executive called on all farmers loyally to abide by the decision, and asked those remaining a,t homo to dp their best to minimise as much as possible the effects of tho loss of young men from the farms.