EXEMPTION OF FARMERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 9, 5 October 1917, Page 8

EXEMPTION OF FARMERS

~- -♦ DIFFICULTIES lis' WHEAT AREAS. "The last man on (lie farm" question came under the notice of the House of Representatives again yesterday afternoon as the result of a question asked by Mr. Dickie of the Minister of Agriculture. Mr. Dickie reminded the Minister of a statement he made when lie was in Canterbury; asking the farmers to grow wore wheat. Mr. Dickie said the Minister stated that the country was in/ need of more wheat, and he urged farmers to. put more wheat in. ' The question was then asked him: What would be the position of men putting in more wheat if they were in the First Division? They were told by the Minister that provision would be made, and they would be released from active service. Those men, however, were now being laalled into camp. One man he knew of possessed 300 acres, of which lie had put 150 in wheat and 30 in oats, besides grazing 150 sheep on the properly, and he did all his own work except at harvest tine. Mr. Dickie asked what was the intention of the Department in respect to these '■Tho Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald stated that in discussing the wheat question in the south at nearly cverr mating ho attended the same question was asked: What about labour? The farmers said it was quite impossible under existing conditions lo grow wheat if tho labour wore taken, away. He discussed tho question before going south with the Minister of Defence, and the Minister of Defenco recognised that tho country must maintain its produce and so maintain the financial position. Ho (Mi. Mac Donald) could not say that any man would bo exempted. Ho understood from the Minister of Defence that the military service boards knew the mind ot the Government on tho matter, that when it came to the last man who was essential and necessary to carry on tho production of a farm, tho appeal ol such a man should be adjourned sine die. 1c had urged tho farmers in such cases to appeal feeling convinced hat the miliary servico boards would adjourn the appeals indefinitely. A member: Some of the boards don t do it, thougli. , ~ , , ii Mr. Mac Donald added that he won t look into Che question to sec what could be done. . , . The Prime Minister said the whole matter was now under the consideration of the (iovernmenl. but it was not: the intention to take tho last man rff any farm if that man could not be. replaced. Ho could not go further than (hat at the moment, but either the Minister or Defenco or he (Mr. Masscy) would make a. further statement on tho subject in a few days' time.