MINIMUM AGE FOR WORK

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21808, 13 June 1936, Page 14

MINIMUM AGE FOR WORK

Full-Time Employment Of Boys COMMITTEE’S REQUEST TO MINISTER A request for prohibition of the full-time employment of boys under 14 years is to be sent to the Minister for Employment (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) by the Christchurch Boys’ Employment Committee. A resolution approving this proposal was adopted at a meeting of the committee yesterday. The suggestion was made by Mr A. J. McEldqwney on behalf of the welfare committee and met with warm support. Mr G. J. Lancaster said he was fully in support of the idea, but thought the age should bp 15 instead of 14. Thq secretary, Mr G. M. Keys, said there seemed to be apathy among a section of the parents and something would have to be done. Mr T. W. West said he thought the prohibition should extend further than the welfare committee proposed. He did not like to see boys selling sweets in the theatres at night, or selling papers. He moved an amendment that boys under 14 should not be allowed to work on school days. In reply to a question about the position on dairy farms he said he supposed the rule could not apply there. The chairman, Mr M. E. Lyons, said, he thought this proposal a little too drastic. There were many people who could afford to keep their boys at school only with the assistance of the small wage the boys earned in their spare time. Mr A. C. Maxwell said he thought it would be hard on parents to stop boys working on school days. He had known of several cases and it did not seem to harm the boys. The amendment was lost and the motion carried oy a large majority.