PEAS AND BEANS FOR MILITARY CAMPS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 281, 22 August 1940, Page 6

PEAS AND BEANS FOR MILITARY CAMPS

Suggested Growing By

School Children

At its July meeting, the Wellington Education Board, received a letter from the headmaster of the Makara School suggesting the growing of beans by the school children and onefrom the Masterton sub-centre of the Bed Cross Society advocating the cultivation of onions at the schools. Copies of the letters were sent to the Director of Primary Production, Mr. IL B. Tennent, whose reply was read at yesterday’s meeting of the board. “The 'dillieulty with the growing of crops by school children,” said Mr. Tennent, “lies principally in tlie cost of marketing, it being very often tine case that this will be greater than tlie proceeds of the sale of the crops.

“Au alternative Ims occurred to ma which might meet with your approval. It is suggested flint these schools might grow a suitable type of peas and Ih'iius for the military camps Haricot beans and peas which may be. dried are not bulky and are quite storable and could bo readily sorted by school children. It would be essential for the Education Department to meet the costs involved, and no doubt some of the local people could be pre vailed on to take the crops to the camps. I think in this fashion tlie enthusiasm of the school children could be used to the greatest advantage.”

Mr. L. J. McDonald said that from tlie point of view of helping the war effort, such a scheme would be mere fiddling about. Mr. A. Donald said that though the growing of beans and peas as suggested would not go a long way toward winning Hie war, it was necessary to take Hie. long view and to think of tlie value of Hie teaching of Hie cultivation of those crops. Tlie chairman, Mr. W, V. Dyer, said that Hie scheme, would be difficult toj handle. It was decided to obtain the opinion of Mr. 11. IV. Hesse, the board’s supervisor of manual and science instruction.