54 THE STORY OF THE U.F.O. 



many cases the farm women, already over- 

 worked, undertaking to help in the field work 

 of the farm. In fact, there were many cases 

 where health suffered because of this over- work. 

 Nevertheless, in response to Mr. Crerar's appeal 

 and the statement of the Government through 

 him, that the success of the war would probably 

 depend upon food production, in the Spring of 

 1918 plans for still greater production were laid. 

 The carrying out of these plans involved the 

 use of many thousands of farm boys whose 



cases had been considered before the Con- 

 scription tribunals during the winter, and who 

 had been given exemption for this very purpose. 

 .*4 Then, in the midst of seeding operations, these 

 exemptions were cancelled. 



It has been charged by the detractors of the 

 farmers' movement, that the strong agitation 

 which swept the Province because of the can- 

 cellation of these exemptions showed an un- 

 patriotic and selfish spirit on the part of the 



farmers. Before this conclusion is accepted it 



. 



well to remember several facts. The begin- 

 ning of the war had found the farms seriously 

 undermanned and still more seriously under- 

 womaned. For years, owing to the prevailing 

 economic system, farming had been less profit- 

 able than it should have been, with the result 

 that the trend of population had been strongly 



