HOP-PICKERS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 56, 30 November 1923, Page 8

HOP-PICKERS

CHILDREN AND HOLIDAYS MINISTER AND EDUCATION BOARD GOVERNMENT FAVOURS CLOSING SCHOOLS A custom, now become tradition for half a century In the Nelson district, of closing the schools during the hoppicking season, is threatened by the action of the Education Board, but the Government favours the continuance of the practice. An influential deputation from Nelson, headed by the members for the district, Mr. R. P. Hudson, M.P., and Mr. H. Atmore. M.P., waited on the Hon. G. J. Anderson, aoting-Min-ister of Education, yesterday morning, to ask that the practice of closing schools towards the end of February, for the hop-picking, liel<l_ up last year on the decision of the Nelson Education Board, should bo reverted to. Mr. Hudson and Mr. Atmore quoted cases of families that earned from £5O to £6O during the season. If the schools were to remain open, _ the parents would be unable to participate in the hop-picking. It would be better to give the holidays then than at any other time. The children did not pick many hops, but the poor people earned money from it. Those of the children who went hop-picking were accompanied by their parents Th© nolicense question was in no way associated with th© matter. They were not out to catch votes, said Mr. Atmore, as there were very few hop-growers in his electorate. (Laughter.) Major Talbot presented a petition, signed by 1000 people, asking. for the resumption of the holidays in th© hop-picking season. If they were abolished, industry would suffer and poverty, up till now not apparent, would result in some cases. People bad had to withdraw money from the Savings Bank, since the holidays were abolished. The secretary of the Hop-Growers Association and a local hop-growoi supported the deputation. , Two mothers who were with the imputation, gave personal testimony that their family resources would sufffc'’ if the request were not granted. The Minister’s Reply. The Minister, in reply, said tlie matter was purely local, and the Denartment had nothing to do with it. The Department had laid it down that the school should be. open for a certain number of days in the year, leaving it to the Education Board to allot holidays to suit tho needs/of tho districts He quoted a letter from the Nelson Education Board, saying that the privilege had been considerably abused, the schools being closed for as long as five weeks. The board felt that uniform holidays should be observed. and that its duty was to discourage child labour. 9 he children v. ere not fit to resume -chool after the bop-picking. . . Members of the deputation: that is ridiculous and absurd. The Minister promised to recommend that the holidays should be granted to fall in with the views of th© imputation. (Hear, hear.). Is It child Labour? “From a common-sense point of view,” said Mr. Anderson, “hop-pick-ing is not child labour, in the ordinary acceptance of that term.. . . . I do not agree with the action of the Nelson Board. Neither myself, nor Mr. Hudson, nor Mr. Atmore would be parties to child labour. That would prejudice tlie health and normal education of the children, but, in the present case, it seems that th© children are not being harmed, but are out in the open air, which does them good.” Mr. Hudson refuted the statement of the Nelson Board, that the holidays had gone on for three months. The Minister: The Department will send on a recommendation that the practice of fifty years should not be interfered with. The Director of Education said that the action of the Nelson Education Board was not taken at the direction of tho Department. The regulation allowed the boards to arrange the twelve weeks annual holidays as best suited their districts. In reply to Mr. Caughley, the deputation stated that four weeks would be a reasonable period for the closing of the schools. . . , The deputation, in. thanking the Minister, said that his decision wiuld give great satisfaction throughout the district.