CHILD LABOUR IN FACTORIES

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22662, 17 March 1939, Page 7

CHILD LABOUR IN FACTORIES

“MAKING PROFITS FOR SHAREHOLDERS” CRITICISM OF REMARKS BY MR T. NUTTALL Resentment at the suggestion that employers of factory workers explotted the labour of boys and girls under the age of 16 years to make profits for shareholders was expresed by Mr G. A. Gilchrist (president of the Ashburton Chamber of Commerce) when commenting on statements made by Mr T. Nuttall to a meeting of the Christchurch Technical College Board of Governors as reported in “The Press” on March 4, at a businessmen’s luncheon at Ashburton yesterday. Mr Gilchrist said that Mr Nuttall s statements were an indictment of parents. The Factories Act set the minimum age for the employment of boys and girls in factories at 14 years, and special regulations were made to ensure that the employment had no detrimental effect on the health of the worker. Further, the Education Act provided that the school-leaving age should be 14 years. Referring to the act, Mr Gilchrist said that Sections 27, 28, and 29 governed the position for protecting young persons, and Section 32 provided for reasonable remuneration. Generally speaking, awards covered most factory work, and these in practically all cases stipulated for a higher rate of wage than that provided under the Factories Act.