LABOUR FOR FARMERS

Nelson Evening Mail, 15 May 1917, Page 6

LABOUR FOR FARMERS

public school holidays. .. how pupils aiay assist. The adoption by the Auckland Brammar school Board of a plan for the" rearrangement of holidays, by which some 750 bovs will be able to assist in harvesting operations for a considerable period, led to an enquiry as to whether it is Ekelv that any similar action will be taken* in respect to the_ primary schools /says the Auckland Herald.) Mr <3i J- Garland, who is a memoer of the Auckland Education Board,- &s well as of the Grammar School Board, ' when seen on the subject, said he was of opinion.that the scheme adopted by the Grammar School Board could vorv well be extended to the elder toy? of the primary schools, and that J e intended to bring the matter b P f..r 2 the Education Board at its next meeting, teo far as can be judged, there -nore between 600 and 700 boys at present ; n the 6th standard in the 14 ..Aiw*..'.nd • City and suburban public schools. >ouablv there were 200 or 300 . ore m lh' sth standard of the age of yea s and upwards. ' , "Thus " said Mr Garland, lucre, •.«= available a fine little army of between ■2OO and 800 boys at least *ho vi v.ld be available-for harvesting work .d.u: nfc the summer holidays. My :dea is mat we should make vacation as lone as possible. Of wc cannot close the schools until--two or three days before Christmas Day, as to.: do so would be contrary- to ■ law. We, however, could extend the holidays as we did last year, so that boys, if their parents agreed, would be free to. assist &ers during the whole of February, as well as during the whole of January. JDuring these two months grass, hay, oaten sheaves, and grass-seed are usually harvested, and 700 of 800 strong, boys • -would be exceedingly useful m assisting - to gather these crops. I have spoken to the chairmen of several school committees on the matter, and although they at first appeared to regard the proposal ' with some doubt, they were able to see the question in a favourable light when I pointed out that the number of boys that would be available would be equal to say 350 men. : Of course, it would be' necessary to obtain the consent of the parents, and proper provision would have to be made for the direction and control of the lads. The National Efficiency Board, which would have charge of the matter, of course, would ensure that the boys were properly housed and cared for." . -The possibilitv of the larger private schools adopting a similar plan was also snezested bv Mr Garland. There were, he said, manv hundred boys attending the«e schools who would be able to give much welcome assistance to farmers daring the period of their greatest need for labour.