BRITISH HARVEST LABOR

Evening Star, Issue 16778, 5 July 1918, Page 6

BRITISH HARVEST LABOR

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. BOX POX'. July 2. Tho House of Commons, on a motion for adjournment, debated the combing-out of ngricujturista. Mr Ih-othero (President of the Board of Agriculture), amplifying earlier answers, said ho believed wo shall not lose much of tho harvest owing to a shortage of labor. At any rate, it will be necessary to take dO.OCO men who have been already called up, though other agriculturists will ho taken only after the harvest. The men combed out comprise only 4 per cent, of iho total employed on the land. When the German prisoners are added there will bo more labor for agriculture than at dovraibcr, 1916. Mr Prothe.ro startled the House by saying ihat the men token now would be in the bring line by the middle of September, which might be the most critical moment. Several speakers hotly denounced the sugge-dum that the men would be given only three months’ training. Mr Honor lav; said meat of the men would -ho given three months’ training at Home, though some would he sent to France after 10 weeks. The principle was to give the new troops at least another month’s training'; in France.. AH’ lionar Law continued ; *’ Don’t think wo are in thus last ditch, but tho whole German r-l.riegv i- based on an attempt to wear out our reserves. it is the Government s dutv to make certain that we shall not .sinter such a defeat ;n will render the 3938 e. lupaggu useless The iiaßiou for adjournment was negatived.