CHILD LABOUR

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23891, 9 March 1943, Page 6

CHILD LABOUR

Sir,—Dr. D. E. Hansen. Director of the Christchurch Technical College, and Mr T. W. West, chairman of the Board of Governors of the college, have done a public service in directing attention to the incidence of child labour in New Zealand. Not only are mere children entering our factories when they should be at school; what is worse they are permitted to work overtime. We know that war requirements are paramount but they should not be met at the expense of the future of the children and of the Dominion. Under the N.R.A. in America children cannot enter clothing factories under 16 years of age. One cannot believe that New Zealanders who led the world in social and industrial legislation are indifferent to the undoubted threat to the physical and cultural wellbeing of their children. It is disturbing to find that the Court of Arbitration and some employers do not realise the grave dangers involved in permitting children of tender years to enter workshops and factories. —Yours, etc J. ROBERTS. March 8, 1943. Sir, —Your report on child labour deals with the problem in a way leaving more to be said. To advise boys to go to a secondary school, or, failing that, at least to learn a trade may be theoretically right yet practically wrong. Many families, having but one wage-earner, are too pinched by the high cost of living to finance further schooling. Boys advised at any rate to learn' a trade and not run messages find factory after factory with the quota of apprentices already filled. Apprentices cannot be taken on. As a messenger a boy can earn 30s a week to begin with, and acquires an inkling of business, learns business terms and business manners, and after a while) has a clearer idea of the sort of trade I he would prefer than he ever would at school. All this is frowned upon, to the disadvantage of needy lads.—Yours, etc. OPEN DOOR. March 8, 1943.