AGRICULTURE AND WAR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14647, 3 July 1918, Page 3

AGRICULTURE AND WAR.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS.

(Elec. Tel. Copy rignt- united Press Assnl Ausrrtiian ana tf.z. cable Association." (Received July 3, 11.30 a.m.) T «! „ LONDON, July 2. m the House of Commons, on. a motion for adjournment, members debated the combmg-out of agricultariuts. Mr Prothero, amplifying his earlier answers, said he believed we shall not lose much of the harvest owing to the shortage of labor. At any rate, it would U necessary to take 30,000 already called u Pj . though other agriculturists would only ba taken after the harvest. The men combed out were only four per cent of the total employed on land. When German prisoners were added there would be more labor for agriculture than at November, 1916. ' Mr. Prothero startled the House by saying: The men taken now will fee irt the firing line m the middle of September, which might be the most critical moment. .

Several speakers hotly denounced the suggestion that the men would only be given three months' training. Mr. Bonar Law said most of the men were given three months' training- at home, though some were sent to France after ten weeks. The principle was to ffive the new troops at least another month's training in' France. No lads of 18 were aent.to the firing line until they had at least four months' training. ~ Mr. Botiar Law* continued: «T do riot think we are m the last ditch, but the whole German strategy is based on an attempt to wear out our reserves It is the Government's duty to make certain we shall not suffer sudh a defeat as wonid render the 1918 campaign useless." The' adjournment was negatived.