Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

848 HISTORY OF THE BANKDuchess of Connaught's Prisoners of War Fund, and thewhole-hearted support of the staff in all parts of the countrywas extended to Commodore ^Emilius 1Jarvis, naval recruitingofficer for the Royal Canadian Volunteer Reserve for Ontario,in his campaign to enroll recruits for that force. Later thesame co-operation was extended to similar recruiting in otherprovinces.At the request of the Military Hospitals Commissionthe branches were instructed to accept from any bankwithout charge transfers of the accounts of convalescent soldiersfrom towns in which hospitals were located.It was only in 1916 that the full gravity of the warsituation began to be felt in Canada, and even then thecolossal nature of the task of finding money for the enormouspurchases of the Allies in the United States, which hadfallen to Great Britain's share, was not fully grasped. Theprogress of the war had produced a marked effect on agriculturein Canada. Enlistment had drained the market for farmlabour of all the men who were physically fit, and had raisedthe price of the less efficient remainder. The weather of theprevious autumn had been unfavourable for the preparationof the land, and the acreage to be sown in 1916 seemed likelyto show a reduction. The high prices which ruled in the livestock markets were a temptation to the farmer to turn hisbreeding herds into money and thus deplete the source of futurefood supplies. At the same time it was of the utmost importanceto the welfare of Canada that her exports of agriculturalproducts should be maintained, and if possible, increased. Itwas beyond question in the interests of Great Britain and herAllies that the constant supply of foods, so vital to the carryingon of the war, should as far as possible be obtained within theJarvis (b. 1860) is a native of the county of York and was educatedat Upper Canada College. He entered the service of the Bank of Hamilton at anearly age and was subsequently for a time with the Traders Bank of Canada. Uponthe reorganization of the Sovereign Bank of Canada in 1907 he became president ofthat bank. He is head of the firm of JSmilius Jarvis and Company, Toronto, bankersand brokers. He has been many times Commodore of the Royal Canadian YachtClub, Toronto, and is one of the best-known yachtsmen in Canada.