COUNTRY WORK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17523, 5 July 1917, Page 7

COUNTRY WORK.

UTILISATION OF SCHOOLBOYS.. MATTER BEFORE EFFICIENCY BOARD. [Per Phess Association.] \ WELLINGTON, July i. .) A letter from the chairman of tbd National Efficiency Board to the Technical School Board received last night, stated that a suggestion had been made, that school holidays should be" shortened in the spring and autumn, and correspondingly lengthened at midsummer, in order to enable senior pupils to' undertake work in' the country at tho shearing and harvesting seasons. The. letter stated that it had been ascertained that the employment of senior girla was not approved by mistresses, and the suggestion relating to their employment in the country had. therefore been dropped. Inquiries had shown that there f was no need to alter the dates of the university and other examinations or interfere with holiday arrangements, as in tkei case of the older pupils they haul already had extended midsummer holidays, while those in the primary schcote were hardly of an age to be any use in the country. In the case of country school boys these have always been well engaged in useful work. Replies to the : circulars issued by the Efficiency, Board. having shown the scheme for utilising schoolboy labour to be feasible, it only \ remained to make the necessary ar«T rangements. j; It was decided to supply information,.' to fcho Efficiency Board as to the numU ber of boys under the Technical Board's ' control who were suitable for country-; work. ... • ' ' . \.