THE HOLIDAY FEVER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 233, 25 June 1908, Page 8

THE HOLIDAY FEVER.

"PRODUCTIVE 1 POWER OF THE COUNTRY WOULD SUFFER." IBS IEI.EGKAm.—riSESS ASSOCIATION.) . • , , , Auckland, June 24. >; The question of holidays was referred to at to-day's meeting of the/Auckland Education Board,' when ,Mr. G." J.- Garland: moved that tho . visit of tho American fleet to Auckland waters. should bo made the occasion of an oxtra week's holiday, instead of the-Michael-holiday being done away with, as was originally proposed. The Chairman (Mr. Bagnall) said that he was opposed to the motion on the ground that there were too ■ many holidays. Ten. weeks' .holiday in tho year was quite enough. That, meant that one-fifth of the year was given up in holidays. The school year was reduced to 42 weeks or 210 days; out of 313 working days in, the year. The average worked by pupils and teachers was four days in the week. The holiday question was becoming a burning one in this country, and before long would have a serious effect, and tho productive power of the country would suffer. Moreover, ho questioned the honesty of this , proposal. If the .teachers knew they wore going to lose,a week's pay they would not bo so for an..extra week's holiday. No private, institution ..would carry on business in'such a way, knocking off work for a whole week because .of a: visit from the American- fleet. • . Mr. Greenslade, M.P., pointed out that while .'the question of additional holidays was one . requiring: careful. consideration, it' was nevertheless. a probability that even if the schools were kept open they would be empty. Ho thought it better to. try. and arrange a distribution, of the holidays. • Mr. Parr said lie agreed that there was too much scope'for the holiday fever, and he moved an' amendment that- it be left to the discretion of the respective school committees to add the Michaelmas holidays on to the mid-winter holidays, and thus, do away'with the need for an extra week on the occasion of tho fleet's visit. Mr. Stalhyorthy, M.l\, said ho wished to take exception to the Chairman's statement with' regard to the number of holidays being likely to bo conducive to idleness.. This, ho thought, was overdrawn. v . » The amendment in favour of the Michaelmas holidays'being observed in "fleet week" was carried.