LAST MAN ON THE FARM

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9784, 6 October 1917, Page 7

LAST MAN ON THE FARM

STATEMENT BY DEFENCE MINISTER. A lengthy statement with regard to the Government’s policy as to the last man on the farm was mad© by the Minister for Defence in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. Quoting from a numlber of memoranda on the subject issued to the various Military Service Boards in March last, Sir Janies Allen stated that the Government had made it quite clear that their policy was, as he had stated throughout, that the boards were expected in all cases where the last man on a farm could not be replaced, to adjourn his appeal indefinitely. To the best of his knowledge, the boards were carrying out the instructions given them to that effect. If members would let him have the individual cases in which it was stated that the boards had not done so, he would have them inquired, into. , ' :■ Mr G. Witty (Riooarion); “I have given you and nothing has been done.” Mr W. J. Dickie (Salwyn) complained that he had bad the same experience. '

Mr H. J. H. Okey (Taranaki) asked if a reservist had gone into camp; not knowing of the Government's policy in regard to the matter, could he appeal now? Sir James Allen said that there was always an opportunity when fresh evidence was obtained, for a man to have his appeal reopened. Mr Witty said ‘ that in one ease a widow had had on© son killed at the front, and now her other son, the only man left on the farm, had been called into camp. Ho had mentioned the case to the Minister, but nothing had been done aibout it. The Minister replied that the case was being inquired into. Mr G. V. Pearce (Patea) asked if the Minister would send the statement of policy he bad just made to the different boards. At New Plymouth the board had stated that all the First Division men would be called up _ before the Second Division went into camp. That had been circulated throughout Taranaki, and it had stopped all appeals in the province. Sir James Allen said that he would be very pleased to have the statement circulated. Mr G. J. Andersen (Mataura) asked if the Minister would give instructions to exempt the last remaining lad on the farm whose brothers were now at the front or had been killed at the front P The Minister replied that the Act did not provide for the case of the lad whose brothers were now at the front, but only for the ease of the last surviving sou whose brothers had been killed at the front. The first case was entirely one for the board to decide. But if the farm would suffer if he went away—if he was the last man on the farm and could not be replaced—the Government did not want him to go, and he thought that the board would exempt him. Mr Dickie stated that the boards were not carrying out the Minister’s instructions. He would hand over to the Minister a letter he had just received, and let him see for himself. Sir James Allen said that h© would have the matter inquired into.