Taking Men Off the Land Risks Harvest, 2nd July 1918

On 2nd July 1918 the Nottinghamshire War Agricultural Executive Committee complained that the needs of the army for more men was putting that summer's harvest at risk.

“A BREACH OF FAITH.

“THE URGENT CALL TO FARM LABOURERS.

“FEARS OF A DISASTROUS HARVEST.

“It now appears that the concession to agriculture that no farm worker should be called up to the army until after the harvest only refers to men called since June 26th. Local recruiting authorities have just received instructions from the Ministry of National Service that, in spite of the fact that the local committees, after careful reconsideration, have given vouchers to some men called up under the quota, such vouchers must now be ignored, if it is necessary to do so to secure the full quota.

“The matter was discussed at a meeting of the Notts. Agricultural Executive Committee to-day [2nd July 1918], and the Chairman (Mr. T. Warner Turner) said that the decision to take men called up after June 26th, rendered their work in issuing the vouchers of exemption, a perfect “wash-out.” Towards the Notts. quota of 500, they had already found 480, subject to a reduction of cases which were not put in Grade 1., and to “casualties” which might occur before medical examination.

“Lord Manvers thought that Mr. Prothero had been weak in yielding to the pressure of the Ministry of National Service. and that every War Agricultural Committee in the country ought to protest against any more men being taken before the harvest. If these men were taken before the harvest it would inevitably result in a disastrous harvest, and many farmers would be absolutely derelict. All the work that the committees had done for food production would be wasted.

“Ald. H. Heath: We have solved the food problem, and now we are to be put on the scrap heap.

“Mr. J. R. Starkey, M.P., while recognising the great difficulties which the Government had to face, quite agreed with Lord Manvers as to the effect on the harvest.

“The Chairman said that from Mr. Prothero's speech in the House of Commons they had assumed that no more men were to be called up until after the harvest, and the notice only just received from the Ministry of National Service taking all those called up since June 26th to make up the county's quota, put hem in a position of very great difficulty. Notts. compared very favourably with most other counties in the number men they had secured towards the quota.

“Another member declared that the responsible authority had not kept faith with the committee, and it was decided to send a telegram to the Ministry of National Service protesting against the action which has been taken.”

'Nottingham Evening Post', 2nd July 1918.