SEASONAL .WORK IN HOLIDAYS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24368, 21 September 1944, Page 6

SEASONAL .WORK IN HOLIDAYS

♦ DIRECTION OF STUDENTS ' AND TEACHERS MINISTER’S STATEMENT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, September 20. It would again be necessary to use the services of students over the long summer vacation, but some relaxation in the demands on students and teach ers had become possible, said the Minister of Industrial Manpower (the Hon A. McLagan) to-night. It would ml be necessary for students to perform work during an extra month. University classes during 1945 would therefore not be disturbed, but students would be called upon to assist over , peak seasonal difficulties. As was done last year, University students would have at least two weeks* break between their examinations and commencing work under direction. Training college students would not be required to commence before January 3, 1945. Students would also have a break between completing work and resuming classes. This break would be at least five days, and would be up to two weeks where the work had been prolonged and arduous. Mr McLagan said it might be necessary to make some directions into freezing works and dairy factories above the number of students volunteering for such jobs, but fewer directions than last year should be necessary. A number of women students would also be directed to hospitals, but not for longer. than one month, an- women engaging in this work would be exempted from any furthei holiday work. Such directions made possible most well-earned relief to hospital staffs, who worked long hours without a break. T’ Minister said that applications from students wishing to enter holiday employment of their own selection of reasonably high priority would be granted if even higher priorities did not urgently require labour. Students taking honours courses in 1945 would be permitted to undertake preparatory thesis work where the dean of a faculty certified this to bj necessary. Similarly, provision would be made for those needed to perform practical work. Manpower officers directing students to holiday work would have the cooperation of the various students’ organisations, Mr McLagan said that no married teachers, men or women, would be directed this season, nor any unmarried teachers more than 30 years of age. Unmarried teachers less than 30 would be directed where the circumstances necessitated, but could arrange their own employment in reasonably high priority industries.