FARM WORK IN HOLIDAYS

Southland Times, Issue 24887, 29 October 1942, Page 4

FARM WORK IN HOLIDAYS

TEACHERS AND PUPILS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 28. “As was the case in Britain, where teachers and pupils have enabled the harvest to be brought in, we in New Zealand will need every available pair of hands to bring in the harvest this year,” the Minister of Education, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, said when announcing a scheme whereby schoolboys and teachers will help on farms during the summer vacation. The Minister said the scheme had been arranged by the. Education, National Service and Agriculture Departments. The right type of schoolboys would be sent where needed and all would be treated as members of the farmer’s own family and be paid award wages. City boys had worked on farms last year and farmers praised them. Many more farmers wanted assistance this year, and it was believed the schools could supply a large part of it. If seasonal work required their services boys would be excused school during February, and those who were not sitting examinations would be allowed away before the end of the school year in December. The Railways Department would grant a substantial concession to boys travelling to work, and those who worked a month or longer would have the return fare refunded.

Teachers and students had also been asked to take farm work during the vacation, and district man-power officers would arrange places for them as for boys, but they could arrange positions for themselves if they wished to do so.

SCHOOL GIRLS FOR FRUIT FARMS

(P.A.) NELSON, October 28. A proposal to bring secondary school girls from Wellington to assist in small fruits and tobacco gardens during January and February was discussed by Miss P. J. Jull, girls’ vocational guidance officer, Wellington, and the Nelson Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union. Miss Jull said that the youth centre realized farmers’ difficulties. The centre was able to find several hundreds of school girls for fruit-picking provided the conditions were suitable. A big problem was accommodation. The Man-Power Department had offered to pay the fares. She did not think the girls were out to make much money; they were mostly strong girls and would work well.