ALL MUST WORK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3068, 2 May 1917, Page 7

ALL MUST WORK

toOTTBQYS AND gW MAY .■■: HELP '

' EFFICIENCY BOARD'S SUGGESTION i.l proposal, thaf the L oigker hoys and feirls attending and technical schoos should do sorJio useful work «unng their Christmas liolidays is hemg made by the National Efficiency ...Board in the, following circular which is being sent to tho 'boards of governors w these schools. ■ As appears from the-oircular, the prooosal is that tho roming'holirJijvß should bo reduced, in order to 'perinit of the summer vacation being lengthened. In this extra '•'one Htihirier holiday break the boys Bll d girlo would bo able to do work of . Eomfl vmportance at a-time when the .heed- For labour'is most acute. The mrf'ular runs as follows:— •.-■■■ '<„,"• has_been siißfiested to this board .4hat during the nresent war the assistance of the senior hoys and girls attending the secondary schools fcouM be utilispfl with material benefit fo iKe Slate diiriri? tho long summer (vacation, ■'and that for this purpose j»t> is dpsirable that tho holidays now '?rantpd in tho autumn and snring jshould be -reduced from three weeks to *nne weelc. to enable the four weeks so teaxed to-be- added to ihe summer holiWays. It is suggested thpt.the perinrl ynring which the lads and girls could jlif> of the greatest service would be bntween November and February.' The French Government have utilised schtiol Jabour rlurina; war. tjme very largely, ■and with wonderfully'satisfactory.'re- ■ JbuHb. Tn Otago-a laro;o number of *oys during tlm past ,shearinE season fenenl their holidays in sliparinijspheds, with beneficial results to the ■fnrmers and to themselves, enabling, shearing -wojk to be carried out \nors exrDeditiou'ly, thus themselves pprivin? henpfit from the point of view jinf health and' in the r-arninfr of pocketfnioney. For- example, it., is reported Pthat -twelve . first-year -nupils.. of the tiDunedin Technical School earned jtsheqneK varying from £10. 9k. to £20, tend averaaed about £13 'each, during •' Hhe -Christmas .holiday '.season. These «K>y-6 were-from fourteen to fifteen 'tvears of age. ' Not only could such jUds be emploved with advanta?o in fthe. shearing sheds; but also in.fruitpicking; turnip thinning, and other Jarni pursuits. ' :'■ ■ ■

.- Thii matter has been submitted to 'the Hon. the Minister ( of Jklucation. kni he replies RUggestirnt'lhat I should •■ascertain, thn views of the various liieh jtechool. boards of ffo.ver.nors -and- '.llipir principals, as he feels that they would ■Tie in a better position.to furnish information reeardinp , t'm .proposed rrar.rangempnt. of-.tho holiday terms than .the Minister is. -..'••;" '

Aβ arrangements will-shortly have 1.0 'm madr , for thfl May .holidays, this ilnatter ji one of great : iirgenoy if any benefit is to be obtained .from the fcehe'me this year, . and I submit the Snatter for ,your consideration, triififcijne that your reply will be favourable, land-that vonr boardwill bn able to fall. Hn with the suggestion, which is inade ■in the best interests of the Dominion.