Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1918-03-07

sors, have covered as many of the
schools and collegiate institutes of the
province as possible, presenting the
plan to the principals, and practically
everywhere they have met with en-
thusiastic response On the part of the
boys, as well as on the part of the
principals and teachers. No detail is
being overlooked in the matter of pro-
viding for the proper treatment of the
high school boy who goes on the farm.
The district representatives of the
Ontario department of agriculture,
who have offices in practically every
county in the province, represent
what might be called "a court Of ap-
peal" for the boys in the matter Of
adjustments of minor difficulties a. to
wages, accommodation provided, ETC.
etc. Even before the boy is placed on
the farm the district representative
reports as to the desirability of the
farm, in order that a young boy may
not be placed on a farm where there
is work for two men. Then the 7.
NJ. G. AS are cooperating by provid-
ing a physical examination Of the boys
before they are sent out to the farms,
and by looking after the recreational
life of the boy wherever it is at all
possible to do so. In cases where the
boy specifies his religious denomina-
ton on his registration card, the cler-
gyman of that denomination in the
district to which he is going is mott
fed by the branch.
Lest it might be gathered from the
foregoing that the scheme is planned
with overmuch consideration for the
boy, and not enough consideration for
the farmer it may be stated that the
boy is given definitely to understand
that In accepting q position on a farm
he is practically enlisting in an army
of production, and, that being the case,
he is expected to stick to his work,
giving the farmer the best possible
service within the limit of his ener-
gies
In the matter Of wages a minimum
Of $12 per month with board, will be
paid for the first two weeks of the
engagement, after which the farmer
will be expected to pay the boy as
much as he has proved himself to be
worth.
. If the scheme proves success dur
ing the coming months, as it lndOubt-
edly will, there is no reason why it
should not be continued in the years
10 oIX TO 70 tho
boy and the farmer, Not only the
province but the nation will profit
thereby.
Every effort is being put forward to
convince the parents of the need of
every boy enlisting for farm service.
The press will be used for this pur-
pose, but in cases where the boys Of
fer themselves, sign the registration
cards and the parents refuse to do so,
we expect to make personal appeal
through patriotic agencies to the par
ents. In this way we will likely get
large proportion of the boys over four
teen years Of age engaged In other
work. There is good reason to believe
that between 5000 to 5000 boys can be
obtained.
The organization of resources COM
mittee inaugurated an essay contest
on the subject, "HoW can the Ontario
school boy by working On a farm this
summer help, first, himself; second,
the farmer; third, the empire?" BY
the offering of prizes in every high.
school, collegiate institute, and second
airy school, the interest and enthusiasm
of the boys has been aroused.
Editors NOte-This is the second Of
series of short articles to appear in
this paper on the farm labor prob
lem. These were written expressly
for Wisconsin farmers by President
Reynolds.