SCHOOLBOY LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3127, 4 July 1917, Page 6

SCHOOLBOY LABOUR

• HOLIDAY WORK.' A communication from the National Emciency Board's chairman (Mr. W. l''erguson), read before the Technical School Board last evening, stated that a suggestion had been made toJ;he secondary schools and other institutions that the autumn and spring holidays should be shortened, and that the midsummer vacation period should be correspondingly extended, in order to enable the senior pupils to undertake work in the country districts during the busy shearing and harvesting seasons. "It has been ascertained," says the letter, "that the employment of senior girls does not meet with the approval of mistresses, and the suggestion relating.to their employment in the country has therefore been dropped. It has also been ascertained '"that it will be unnecessary to ask the University and other examining authorities to alter or set forward tho dates of the November and December examinations, provided the school authorities set free their pupils as early as may be practicable. It appears also to be clear that it is unnecessary to alter the holidays observed by the primary or technical schools. These institutions appear to have a long summer recess, and in the primary schools the age of the boys in ,the town schools is such that few of the lads would be of material ser-.. vice in the country. In tho country schools the boys are always well engaged throughout their holidays in useful work. "It having been thus determined'from the answers u-eceived. to t2ve circular issued by the board that the scheme is not only feasible but has met with considerable support, it therefore becomes necessary to make the required arrange-, nieuts for the utilisation of the available' schoolboy labour. I shall be obliged to you if you will therefore ascertain and let /me know how many boys of suitable physique and age (say, --about 15 years), who would not under ordinary conditions have been employed in country work, will be available and desire to have arrangements made for them. Probably a considerable number of the pupils, having friends with, whom they would wish to be and for whom they would desire to work, will prefer to make their arrangements themselves or by their guardians. It would bo unnecessary to give details as to such pupils other than to indicate their numbers, but it. will be necessary to give full particulars of thoso who desire to have situations fouud for them, with an indication, as to auy preference they may have as to the locality in which th'ey should be placed." On the motion-of Mr. Aitken it was decided that the director obtain the necessary information, and that it be forwarded 'on to the National Efficiency Board.

Mr. Forsyth raised the point as to whether the bo;u'<i would find' the places for the boys who were able to take up the work.