88 THE MINORITY REPORT 



The paragraph in the Majority Report which refers to the 

 shortage of labour after the war, and to which the Minority 

 assent, is as follows : 



"141. The evidence which we have received on the point 

 leads us to expect that most of the older and of the married 

 men will probably wish to return to their former occupations. 

 But, owing to the wastage of war and to the desire which 

 some of the men may have to remain with the Colours, or 

 to settle in towns, or to emigrate to the Dominions, the 

 nvunber of farm workers who will return to agriculture is 

 certain to be considerably less than the number who have 

 left the land since the outbreak of war. We estimate a 

 shortage of, at least, 25 per cent, of those who have enlisted 

 or (say) 80,000 men." 



(4) There is grave danger of this shortage being 

 increased by excessive emigration among 

 ex-Service men who were employed in 

 agriculture before the war. They will come 

 back with a wider outlook and heightened 

 ambition, while the separation allowances 

 will have enabled their wives to enjoy a 

 higher standard of life. Many will return 

 to their old employment, but unless we make 

 it worth their while, it is to be feared that 

 many will be unwilHng to stay in this country. 

 The Majority in their estimate of a shortage 

 of 80,000 make no allowance for this element 

 of loss. We consider it a serious danger, 

 and believe that if the right steps are not 

 taken to make the conditions of the labourer's 

 life more attractive than they were before 

 the war in many countries, we may see this 

 initial shortage of 80,000 gravely increased. 

 Indeed, this is what we fear will result if the 

 advice of the Majority be followed. 



