SCHOOLBOY FARM LABOR

Taranaki Daily News, 12 February 1918, Page 2

SCHOOLBOY FARM LABOR

A (DECIDED SUCCESS. "Schoolboy farm labor on the farms has been an entire and decided success. The boys have really risen to the occasion, and in cases lhave exceeded expectations" This opinion was advanced to a Sun representative by an Ashburton farmer who this season had employed a number of youths during their high school and college vacations, and who enlarged the tribute by detailing the cheerful manner in which the lads had tackled the most unpleasant and hard tasks. The "testimonial to the boys' willingness and spirit was reiterated in other quarters. "I have offered any of the schoolboys who worked with me permanent positions," said qne farmer. "I engaged them originally in a somewhat doubtful frame of mind—not that 1 questioned their willingness and spirit, but I doubted whether their physique would be equal to the continued strainBut evident) v their games keep them remarkably fit, for they stood up to it with t}ie test"'' ' Thorb appears to be little doubt that the farmers generally have been satisfied with the experiment. Boys and their parents seem also very enthusiastic. Said ono parent: "My boy has come >J)ack bettered by what to him has seemed a holiday. Incidentally he has learnt a lot and acquired many scraps of knowledge and accomplishments which later may prove valuable. For instance, he can milk now, drive a horso, work a wool-press, and do other farm jobs."