SCHOOLBOY FARMERS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 25 May 1917, Page 2

SCHOOLBOY FARMERS.

ACTIVE PART OF BIG ENGLISH SCHOOLS.

Schoolboys are taking an active part in food production for the Army (says a London paper of March 3). With the co-operation of Major E. LA.. Belcher, of the Army Canteen Committee, many schools have put part of their playing-fields under cultivation or have taken over neighboring fields. These schools include: Rugby, Clifton, Charterhouse, Marlborough, Felstead a.nd Ardingly. Other schools are considering how far land work will be possible for them. The most complete schemes at the moment are those of Rugby arid Clifton. Rugby has taken over a field of 12 acres from a neighboring farmer. The boys do the. whole of the cultivation, and the produce is being sold to the Army Canteen Committee at rather less than market rates. A percentage of the profits is returned to Rugby for the local-;: Red Cross funds. A similar plan is being followed at Clifton? where land was given by old Cliftonians on the occasion of Clifton's Jubilee.1 Squads of boys,have been placed at the disposal *of "the War Agricultural Committee by some public schools for the Easter holidays to assist the farmers in planting. Rugby boys are going to Devonshire with a master. The local committee is making all arrangements for them, and they will be billeted either in cottages or barns. '\ Major Belcher is addressing a meeting of headmasters of the Midland Schools' Association in Birmingham this week. As a result of this meeting he hopes ;to be able to place thousands of boys at the disposal of the Agricultural Committees throughout the country for the Easter holidays.