There was no question of sentiment involved--it was hard, common sense applied to war. And, horrible irony, the British Government recognises the simple truth, but has only learned down to the present to apply it to farm stock. I saw last year a printed notice in the country post-offices issued to farmers by the Board of Agriculture, telling them not to kill lamb and veal because whatever the price offered the removal of immature stock is dangerous wastefulness which the country cannot afford.
The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries strongly urge all Farmers to RAISE AS MUCH STOCK AS POSSIBLE during the war.
DO NOT send breeding and immature stock to the BUTCHER simply because prices are attractive now.
DO NOT MARKET half-finished animals; it is wasteful of the country's resources and is against your own interests.
DO NOT KILL CALVES--rear them; it is well worth it.
DO NOT REDUCE your stock; when you cannot buy stores, buy calves.
MAINTAIN your flocks and breed your sows; it will pay you to do so.
The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries make the above recommendations not only for the NATIONAL WELFARE but because they believe them to be for the ultimate benefit of BRITISH AGRICULTURE.
It seems almost too ridiculous to be true that the Government has more concern for lambs or calves than for boys on the threshold of manhood, but the facts convict them.
For myself I would rather see a thousand of the bloodthirsty old gentlemen who preached conscription sent to the front from their club smoke-rooms and editorial chairs, than five hundred lads from whom their country has something to expect!
I do not think I am a sentimentalist, certainly I do not plead for the exemption of mere boys from the battlefield in order that they may have what is called a good time, though I hold that they should not be deprived deliberately of the few halcyon years that are in one fashion or another the reward of one and all. I would work them to the last ounce of their capacity in seasons like these. They should have long hours, Spartan fare, and spells of physical drill, they should put in eight hours of labour for the Government in the factory, in the munition works, wherever their services could be best employed.