BYGONE DAYS: Farmers will not face prosecution for keeping their children at home to work on farms (May 1942)

Much anger had been felt by farmers across Northern Ireland with the threat that they might be prosecuted if they kept their children home from school to help on farms.
By Darryl Armitage
Published 16th May 2020, 12:00 BST
Pictured in July 2010 is a Mourne Blackface owned by Paul McEvoy, Kilcoo, also included in the picture are handler Donal Kane, Kilcoo, Randal Hayes, chairman NISA, Jim Aiken, judge, John Flynn, Northern Bank, and Paul McEvoyPictured in July 2010 is a Mourne Blackface owned by Paul McEvoy, Kilcoo, also included in the picture are handler Donal Kane, Kilcoo, Randal Hayes, chairman NISA, Jim Aiken, judge, John Flynn, Northern Bank, and Paul McEvoy
Pictured in July 2010 is a Mourne Blackface owned by Paul McEvoy, Kilcoo, also included in the picture are handler Donal Kane, Kilcoo, Randal Hayes, chairman NISA, Jim Aiken, judge, John Flynn, Northern Bank, and Paul McEvoy

The matter was addressed at the monthly meeting of the Ballymena Rural District Council which was held this week in May 1942.

The anger felt by farmers had been raised by Mr James H Gaston who was thanked by the council for challenging the education authorities.

Council member Mr Robert Carson said: “Some time ago we had a protest by Mr Gaston in connection with farmers keeping their children at home to help with farm work.

At the Clogher Show in 2010 is the supreme champion Texel which was owned by Springhill Texels from Castlederg. John Foster of Springhill Texels is pictured here with John Greene, Culdaff, Co Donegal, judge of the Texel classes. Picture: Columba O’HareAt the Clogher Show in 2010 is the supreme champion Texel which was owned by Springhill Texels from Castlederg. John Foster of Springhill Texels is pictured here with John Greene, Culdaff, Co Donegal, judge of the Texel classes. Picture: Columba O’Hare
At the Clogher Show in 2010 is the supreme champion Texel which was owned by Springhill Texels from Castlederg. John Foster of Springhill Texels is pictured here with John Greene, Culdaff, Co Donegal, judge of the Texel classes. Picture: Columba O’Hare

“Mr Gaston made a public protest in regard to it with the result that three weeks ago there was a public announcement broadcast that any person keeping their youngsters at home to do farm work would not be prosecuted. I think Mr Gaston really deserves credit for bringing this about.

“Last year Lord Glentoran appealed to farmers to get their children to help in saving the crops, but the Regional Committee put attendance orders on them which, to my mind, was not sensible.

“It has now been made clear through the efforts of Mr Gaston that there will be no more nonsense of this sort and that if farmers keep their youngsters at home to help in the harvest they will not be prosecuted.”

Mr Carson continued: “I see from the press that some educational authorities are up in arms against it, but if they considered how many farmers’ sons had been very successful, both in business and in professions they would find that the farmers as a whole were as anxious to have their children educated, and to keep them at home to help with the crops would not do them one bit of harm.

The then Minister of Agriculture Michelle Gildernew visits Newry Agriculture Show in June 2010. She is pictured with David Smyth and Frontview Front Runner, a junior champion at Balmoral Show. Picture: LiamMcArdle.comThe then Minister of Agriculture Michelle Gildernew visits Newry Agriculture Show in June 2010. She is pictured with David Smyth and Frontview Front Runner, a junior champion at Balmoral Show. Picture: LiamMcArdle.com
The then Minister of Agriculture Michelle Gildernew visits Newry Agriculture Show in June 2010. She is pictured with David Smyth and Frontview Front Runner, a junior champion at Balmoral Show. Picture: LiamMcArdle.com

“I am sure that the farming community will be very grateful to Mr Gaston for what he has done for them.”

An editorial under the headline ‘A Job for All’, in the Ballymena Weekly Telegraph said the decision not to prosecute farmers was welcomed.

“The position of farmers and others who may utilise the services of schoolchildren in getting the last ounce of flax and foodstuffs out of the land was further referred to at the recent meeting of the Ballymena Rural District Council when Mr James A Gaston was thanked for his protest, which has certainly had the effect of making that position more clearly defined than it appears to have been a few weeks ago.

“One need not worry now whether the Regional Committee was at fault, or, for that matter, who was at fault. The main thing to keep in mind is that the various Ministries, Agriculture, Labour, Food, etc, are now behind the movement to secure more help for the farmer, and that the Ministry of Education in particular has taken the very practical step of recommending to all Regional Education Committees that bona-fide work on a farm shall count as attendance in the case of elementary schoolchildren, while in the case of secondary schools there is a possibility that the summer holiday period will be rearranged so that the pupils attending there will also be able to play their part at a time when their help will be most useful.

Pictured in August 2008 are Robin Trimble and his son John, Ardaragh, Newry, with Curley Megastar which sold for 7,500 guineas at the Northern Bank Texel show and sale held at Dungannon Mart by the Texel Sheep SocietyPictured in August 2008 are Robin Trimble and his son John, Ardaragh, Newry, with Curley Megastar which sold for 7,500 guineas at the Northern Bank Texel show and sale held at Dungannon Mart by the Texel Sheep Society
Pictured in August 2008 are Robin Trimble and his son John, Ardaragh, Newry, with Curley Megastar which sold for 7,500 guineas at the Northern Bank Texel show and sale held at Dungannon Mart by the Texel Sheep Society

“But it must not be taken for granted that the only thing required in this vital campaign to get the most out of the soil is such help as the schoolchildren can give.

“With the position as serious as it undoubtedly is today, it is also the duty of every fit man and woman with any time to spare to take his or her place in the great army which will be required if the harvest is to be properly saved. It is good to know, even this early, that the project for the formation of volunteer groups all over Ulster to help our farmers has had a good reception, and that in certain areas some of the volunteers have already had their first taste of labour on the soil.”

The editorial continued: “In the Cookstown area, for instance, members of a group formed from the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture stationed there gave up almost 80 hours of their spare time last week to work on the farm connected with the Ulster Dairy School, and it can be added that the work was carried out to the entire satisfaction of the farm manager.

“It may be argued that work of this kind comes more readily to the members of such staff, but there must be in Ballymena and district many adults who would be just as capable, and many others who, if they joined one of these groups now. would quickly gain all the knowledge required, and consequently would not be joining in the harvest rush as absolute novices.”

Young farmers silage making contest results are announced

The results of the silage making contest organised by Young Farmers’ Clubs across Northern Ireland were announced this week in May 1942.

The results were as follows: First and winner of the Farmers Weekly and prize of £5 presented by Mr J Graham, Dromore was David Maybin from Lisnamurrican YFC, second was W J Marshall, Killinchy YFC and winner of prize of £3, presented Mr J Graham, Dromore third was Jim Patterson, Saintfield YFC and winner of prize of £2 presented by the Young Farmers’ Clubs of of Ulster.

The judges were Mr Jas Morrison, Bsc, of the Agricultural Research Institute, and Mr Peter Fitzpatrick of the Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd.

The samples were analysed Dr R H Common and Mr F Dickinson, Queen’s University Belfast.

The first and second prize winners made very good silage in portable silos made by Mr J Graham, Dromore while the third young farmer used a silo built with concrete blocks and plastered which “produced an excellent feed for his dairy cows”.

The competition was fostered by the Farmers’ Weekly and the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster to “encourage the making of silage they believe that means of the product the farmers of Northern Ireland can become very much less dependent on imported feed stuffs”.

The Lisnamurrican club intended to hold a big night for the presentation of the cup and they were hopeful that Dr Maginess, the Parliamentary Secretary the Ministry of Agriculture, would be able to come along and present the trophy.

Related topics:Northern IrelandGlentoran