HOLDING THE LINE.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14835, 27 July 1918, Page 2

HOLDING THE LINE.

STR ROBERT BORDEN'S REPLY

TO CANADIAN FARMERS

Ottawa, May 14. A deputation from 3000 farmers of Ontario and Quebec waited upon the Government jto-day to urge a modification of the recent order calling but men from 20 to 22. They argued that if the young men were taken from the farms there would be a decrease of production, amounting to 25 per cent m the two provinces. A representative^spoke for New ; Brunswick, .and,a statement was made on behalf of a Manitoba delegation which is coming to Ottawa. Sir Robert Borden read a telegram from the united farmers of ' Alberta stating that they approved of the Government's action.

Mr ; \ian?iing Doherty" and Mr J. A. j Caron, -Minister of 'Agriculture for! Quebec, were the main-spokesmen for Ontario and Quebec respectively. Mr Doaorty said that the farmers feared that the Government might draw man-' power from thp farms to - such an extent that they would be unable to supply food for the Allies, lie pointed out that the farmers of Ontario had broken thousands of ncres of new land and had bought ne\v machinery as a result of representations made "to them' for the necessity of increased production, in addition hundreds of young men who believed that they would not be called up had married." A feeling of unrest, and want of confidence in the Government had grown because the Government had withdrawn the pledge made to tho farmers last fall that they would be exempted from military service. '-He suggested; that- if need of men was sa great tho Government should close unessential industries and release the men from these rather than call up farmers' s-ons.

Mr Csron explained that he was ngt speaking as a representative of the Quebec Government, but as a. private citizen. Tiie fanners were resolutely opposed to tho new regulations. Quebec since the war began had greatly increased production, but now there would be a great decrease. Mr Caron asserted that some 200 cheese and butter iaotories would be forced to close and "this would result in the slaughtering of a hundred thousand of the'eowa. I here would bo a reduction of wheat production, and small flour mills would be. forced to close. Men fyom^the cities were useless upon farms. They were unable and unwilling to do the" work. W omen could not replace men as in trance or Great Britain, and even in I ranee the work of women was suoplemented by a large number" of Chinese. Sir .Robert Borden; in reply, said tnat he admitted that the calling up of ts"'ine'"s> s°ns would cause great hardship, but in any nation participation in the war created hardship. He laid suess on the necessity, for holding the hno on the Western front. He conxmued:—

I know what I am saying wken I tell you that if the Channel ports should be reached through, the breaking ot the line, it would be extremely problematical whether any of that production of winch you speak could be made of service to the Allied nations or to our men holding that line. In m-v view the supreme duty of the Govern--ment is to see that these men, some of whom havo been fighting for three years, are sustained by such reinforcements as will enable them to hold the Vve" ,a- m n, ofc, mkumisHig production. We need it all, but we need men to hold the line, lou speak of the Government pledges.to tho farmers.. We are also under a solemn pledgo to those men." oir•■Robert Borden described tho conditions at the front in order ta brin<* home to his heaArs the horrors or waa> tare. Canadian soldiers were Tie- said standing between them and such conditions in Canada. Jf ; tho Government were to exempt the farmers, what eowlrf they say to shipbuilders, fishermen, and miners. The Government was yivin«most serious consideration to the* clo£ mg of unessential industries. Unskilled labour, he under;stood, was of little value on farms, but he thought that labour trora the towns and cities might -be of some assistance. This met with loua cries of disapproval from the far-

mers. Sir Robert Borden promised that an ettorfc would be made to give consideration to cases of extreme hardship The Montreal Gazette says •— ' A farmer asking for, privileged treatment has absolutely no ease. He lacks an accurate conception of th-> dntv bo owes to the State. Ho is not"on!v'ask-1 mg for something that he should not have and will not get. but is doincr the country a positive disservice in com-! [■■baring a-measure, necessary to the nations preservation.

rlho branch of the Labour Deuartincivt set up as-, a result of the Vent Jogislation. of 1917 still contihups to do jrood wovk m settling ar lV littJe differences ;rr, between landlord and tenant (says .the "ISow.Zealand Times")' Lately more, tenants have realised the'value ct the oraneh, and have taken advantage oi- the free advice offering Gases are -still being investigated, and al-though-Ther* have been only One or t-,vo r-oui-t {ftses within the "bast'few months the fQct that many eases have been settled out. oi court testifies- to the value o|: the branch. Many complaints received irom tenants are made on very slender grounds, but proper inquiries are ahvays made by the branch,and romedibs songlit where necessary.

Interesting facts associated with the introduction of motor traction in Auckland are recalled by tiie retirement of Mr 6. Henning irom active control of the business that bears his name (says the "New Zealand Herald")./Mr Henniing commenced business in 1891, as a pneumatic tyre manufacturer, and subsequently engaged in a general cycle business. His connection with motor traction began with the acquisition of ; a De Dion tricyclej equipped with a '■■ single , cylinder motor-engine, and it was considered a feat to accpnfplish a journey to Cfaehunga and back on the machine without having a breakdown. . About the year 1900, Air Henning was ' appointed sole New Zealand dealer for .locomobile steam cars, and accompiished: some- remarftable 1 journeys in theni. _ In 1902 he made tiie in st motor journey from Auckland to Wellington, via New. I Plymouth and the Rimutakas, and also I the first from Lyttelton to Dunedin. He also has the distinction of having | driven the first car from Auckland to Rotorua.

As the' result, of: a baby carnival in the ToKTomaru Bsiy.< districts a sum of £277S 11s was raisod for patriotic purposes. When the great- Gorman oifensive began the Church Army had- more than 200 hut*, and recreatipn centres; in'thefiring zone. About iialf of these were ■wiped out in the rusk towards Amiens and >St. .Venant. Many were not abandoned ymtil long after the evacuation of adjacent camps. The heroism of those in charge has been commented upon. Some o.i the helpers refused to leave as long as, there were any woundfd or stragglers waiting to be helped. In.: one Chuxch.Arm.ys but.the superintendent and his iieipers were all blown to pieces by a shell while preparing hot drinks for the men. As the Church Army, which supplies so many essential comforts for our men, has no Government resources to fall back-on. it depends entirely on the real patriotism of; those "at homo. Money is urgently needed. ~