ITALIAN PRISONERS
EMPLOYMENT ON FARMS TWO THOUSAND IN BRITAIN (Rec. 8 p.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 28. A start has been made with the employment of Italian war prisoners to help with British agriculture. The Daily Telegraph says the men are not being allotted individually to farms, but are working in gangs under military supervision, some on draining; ditching, and land mation, and others on the harvest. They underwent rigorous tests for previous agricultural experience and physical fitness before being embarked for these shores, and have already made a most favourable impression on those who have seen them at work in the fields. The total number in this country is only about 2000, but further contingents are believed to be on the way. There can be no doubt that scores of thousands of Italians are now idling away their time in prison camps in India, and represent a valuable reservoir of man-power to eradicate the shortage of domestic farm labour. The only limiting factors would seem to be security and shipping space, of which, the former is probably the main reason for reluctance to use prisoners hitherto.
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Otago Daily Times, Issue 24699, 30 August 1941, Page 10
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185ITALIAN PRISONERS Otago Daily Times, Issue 24699, 30 August 1941, Page 10
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