Regular Holidays.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1922, Page 4

Regular Holidays.

E.-.SENTI Ab TO THE CHILD.

NELSON, July 1. Some vi ry straight remarks were made to-day bv Mr Piuaithy senior Inspector of School:;, regarding the impoi to nee of regular holidays lc» school children. For litany years past country schools in the hop-growing districts have been granted tlie privilege of several weeks holidays during the picking season. The Education Board has now made a stand to wipe out these holidays and give full holidays in January. This has been done in the interest.-, of the children, hut it has raised a storm of indignation in the ufmttd districts.

Mr Pitcaithy said that Nelson was the only district left where holidays were given, not in order to recruit the health of the. children, hut merely to

suit the. convenience of some local industry. The falbuy of thinking that

the employment of child labour was to) the advantage of people engaged in j that industry had been exploded in \ other pla'c.s. ’ (. hiltl la ha fir was neither! prolitahle nor economical, cither to the ! employers or the on .plofees. and the j prohiOiloi y lac.s '..hi: h had been enact-! id in every < u Pry v.ore .sufficient proof <>l the injury c-f the labour to the health of -the children. .Moreover, it was scandalous to think that at a time when adult unemployment was so rife, those engaged in such a profitaide industry should endeavour to make conditions still worse by bringing in the. com net il ion of the Inhour ot children. In the ease ul local hop-picking holidays, Mr f'iteaithy proceeded, there were .moreover, especial reasons why they should l.e discontinued. Holidays to he of any value to the health of the children should be given at regular i e tin a Is. When a child was nervous

end its physical (ondition needed building up again, c< ntinued strain for lengthy periods followed the breaks at schouf intervals as were the practice in this district, were valueless tor -the purpose ol r< euporatiun. “In conclusion.” said Mr Pitcaithy, .“may I say that Canterbury fanners after many rears of experience of harvest holidays have now most willingly abandoned them end the strawberry growers of Auckland and Eolith Canterbury now (■imaged only adult pickers in their gardfus. I feel certain that hop-grow-ers will also find the change most profitable.”