MAN-POWER

Evening Star, Issue 16778, 5 July 1918, Page 7

MAN-POWER

THE FARM WORKER. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT, Sir James Allen has doomed it advisable to restate the position taken up by tho Government aa to the last men on tho farm as follows : Tiie Government are of opinion that it is absolutely essential that production be maintained as nearly as possible at tho present standard. In order to safeguard tho finance of the Dominion this is _oi paramount importance. .Wo aro being called upon to face the dangers oi evergrowing war expenditure, and must maintain to the fullest possible extent the only source of our finances. As a necessary corollary to this decision, therefore, tho Government recommended that the last man should be retained on each farm, provided, of course, that the Mini ary Service Board consider, alter full investigation, that his retention is essential to maintain production and he cannot bo loplaccd; and, further, that neither by the subdivision of farms hor any other moans shall there be evasion. Tho position with respect to appeals of farmer reservists, therefore, is that each case is to be decided on its merits, the Military Service Boards, in arriving at a determination, icing guided bj tho opinion of the Government that no farmer should be called up for military service if his removal from tho farm wifi imperil the maintenance of production. Tho position as to wheat growing was also fully considered, and it was deemed expedient, in the. public interest, that tho Dominion should produce, if possible, sufficient cereals for tho year’s consumption and needs. Tho Miheev Service Boards are accordingly advised particularly to consider the exemption of teamsters, and, if satisfied that such teamsters will be used for the purpose of wheat growing, to grant them leave sine die, imposing at tho same time a condition that these reservists must engage in wheat production while bo exempted.