HELPING THE FARMER.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1917, Page 7

HELPING THE FARMER.

EI'XLISATIOy OF HIGH SCHOOL BOYS. APPROVED BY LOCAL SCHOOLS. In connection with a letter from the National Efficiency Board relative to arrangements being made so that senior pupils of secondary high schools could undertake work in the country during

the busy season. Mr. Moyes, principal of the New Plymouth Boys' High School, reported to the High School Board, on Monday night, that he had informed the chairman of the local Efficiency Board that the schoij' could supply about 70 boys for farm work. Up to the present 60 boys have signified their willingness to work on farms during iiie long vacation. So that the 'boys should be available early in December, he suggested tliat the September holidays should 'be cut down and that the second and third terms be arranged as follows: Second term, May f to August 23, third term, September 3rd to November 30. This would still give approximately thirteen weeks tuition in each term. Matriculation candidates would have to remain at school until about December 13. iShould the Board decide to lengthen the Christinas holidays he sincerely hoped that some or ganised scheme would be put into operation. To break up before arrangements had 'been completed for placing the boys on farms would be useless and he suggested that farmers be asked to apply for boys early in the third term. If he could be of any assistance in answering inquiries from farmers or in helping in the scheme in any way at all, he would only be too willing to place his serviced at the disposal of the Board. In reference to the proposal of the National Efficiency Board that secondary schools should close earlier this year in order to release the pupils for farm work, the (Director of Education stated that it was not considered desirable to make any material alteration in the closing of the schools, or in the date of the annual examinations conducted by the Department, inasmuch as the month of December appeared on the whole to be less valuable for the purpose than the month of 'February following, also in view of the fact that the matriculation examination conducted iby the University remained unaltered. If the Board saw fit to extend the midsummer lioli-

days three weeks to the end of February the Department was not prepared to place any obstacle in the way. 'For harvesting operations February would be best suited in the case of boys. The utility of that month for employment of girls was more doubtful, and it might consequently be more expedient to arrange that "the girls should resume their term work at the usual time. The Efficiency Board's report stated that it had been established that the employment of senior girls did not meet with the approval of the mistresses, and the suggestion relating to their employment in the country had therefore been dropped. Mr. Atkinson considered that December was a busier month than 'February in Taranaki. Harvesting was not the principal business here. In any case, the hay harvest was early, and what grain there was was all harvested by the end of January. December, with shearing. milking, etc., was the busiest month. On the motion of the chairman and Mr Hirst it .was resolved to approve of Mr. Moyes' recommendation and to forward a copy of same to the National Efficiency Board.