HOLIDAY WORK

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 4, 30 September 1943, Page 6

HOLIDAY WORK

Students And Senior School Pupils -

OFFICIAL DIRECTION Employment In Essential

Industries

Arrangements for the employment of students and senior school pupils during the coining Christinas holidays similar to those ma'de last year were announced yesterday by the Minister of Industrial Manpower, Mr. MeLagau. He said that the preliminary interviewing of all university students had already begun, though in many cases it would not be possible to inform them as to the work for which they were required till early in November. At the same time district manpower officers and vocational guidance officers were discussing with head teachers arrangements in regard to senior pupils with a view to determining how many would be available.

“Last year.” said Mr. McLagan, “we had a very fine respouse to an appeal for assistance in seasonal work. Students were brought under direction to a number of essential jobs. Many, in fact, had already taken such jobs before the appeal was made. In addition, over 5000 senior schoolboys that we know of aud many more who did not come under our notice went voluntarily on to farms and to other forms of seasonal work. Senior schoolgirls also volunteered and play efl an important part in fruit harvesting. “This j-ear the need is greater. With our own and allied lighting forces to feed, with supplies to the people of Great Britain to be maintained, and with the nearer prospect of having to assist in supplying food to the starving people of Europe, an appeal for willing assistance in food production requires no further emphasis. The production of food must, he our main industrial effort over the next few months. The cause is so manifest and so urgent that, magnificent as was the response of students, teachers and pupils last year, .1 anticipate that it will he eclipsed by the response we shall have this year. Students to be Directed. “At present the needs of seasonal industries for labour are being surveyed and assessed with a view to allocating jobs on the most suitable basis, having regard to the relative priorities of the jobs and to the need to reserve more mature persons for work beyond the capacity of younger persons,” said the Minister. “Male- university students will be required in freezing works and dairy factories. female university students in considerable numbers will be required in canneries and on the various vegetablegrowing schemes. When these are fullystaffed the balance of students (if any) will he directed to other seasonal jobs in accordance with the relative priority of these jobs. “Students will become eligible for direction in most cases as from the beginning of December, but, where a student would otherwise have no opportunity of. spending some time at his home, arrangements will be -made for this to be done. It is anticipated that university colleges will not reopen till April of next year, thus making students fully available for, the peak of seasonal work ijj' J'ebrnary and March. . “Training College students will similarly be brought under direction, but owing to the shorter length of vacation, it is not possible to indicate as yet the nature of the work to which they will mainly -be directed. This will largely depend upon the way in which seasonal peaks develop. Requirements of Farmers. “Senior schoolboys of 15 to IS years will be needed to assist on vegetablegrowing schemes and on farms. 1 would stress to farmers and farmers’ organizations the need to lodge tentative requests for boys within the next few weeks. It is probable that, as was. the case last year, these boys (many of them are young men of 17 and 18 years) may be made available for an additional month if their services are required, but manpower officers must know by the end of October how many are wanted" fop har vesting and farming work. Boys will also he available to assist in .market gardens and in other forms of wffk. A number of senior school girls of 16 to IS years will also be needed. In those districts where conditions are suitable it is intended to staff vegetable-growing schemes with female students and senior girls. ■

“Such work as pea-picking-and rasp-berry-picking will also require a number of senior girls. Schoolboys and girls will not, however, be employed away from their homes except under* fully approved conditions as to accommodation and supervision and. of course, they will be employed only with the consent of .parents and on the recommendation of teachers. Girls and boys over IS years of age (that is. persons who come within the registered classes), will be placed under direction, but all young people under 18 years of age will be employed only on a voluntary basis. Last year considerably <>yer S<XX) boys and girls volunteered. This year's response, it is hoped, will be even greater. All employment will be at the appropriate award or ruling rates of pay.”