FACTORY BREACH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 138, 12 June 1936, Page 9

FACTORY BREACH.

FIRM PROSECUTED. CLOTHES WITHOUT LABELS. CASE BROUGHT AS WARNING. A city firm of clothing manufacturers, Robinson Bros., was to-day prosecuted by the Department of Labour, on summons, in the Police Court, for failing to label garments made in an unregistered factory. Mr. Xeumegen appeared for the defendant firm, which pleaded guilty. Inspector G. F. Grieve, of the Labour Department, said the charge was an unusual one, the information having been laid under what were commonly known as the "anti-sweating" provisions of the Factories Act. _ Such a charge had never been brought in Auckland for many years. Mr. Grieve said that if the occupier of a factory gave out work to be done elsewhere than in registered factory premises, he must see that the garments so manufactured bore the prescribed label. "This garment was made in an unregistered factory. As a result of checking up, and from information received, we have brought this charge more in the nature of a warning than anything else," said Mr. Grieve. "There was no attempt at concealment, and when we asked to see the books the firm produced them readily. From these books we were able to trace the work done. This matter is dealt with in tlio new legislation, which makes it mandatory for the occupier of such a factory to get permission from the Department of Labour before he lets out work. However, this proceeding has been' brought under the old Act."

Mr. Neumegen said the breach was purely an inadvertent one, the prayticn having gone on for some years. Immediately the firm's attention had been drawn to the matter, the proper labels were attached to the garments, even before the information charging the firm was received. The magistrate, Mr. W. R. McKean, said it seemed necessary to prosecute somebody from time to time, to draw attention to provisions of the legislation, which were not very well known. Under the circumstances of the present case only a small fine, 10/, would be imposed.