DUNEDIN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 185, 30 April 1908, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

■ April 29. It is understood that more is likely to bo heard of the Labour Department's action in 'prosecuting employers in the manpQrf adopted in connection with tho two' cases heard liy the magistrate yesterday afternoon. It .is contended bj' employers'that'the'Department took ' advantage of information • supplied by them in their anxiety to ; comply : with the requirements of the Act. The position has been stated as follows: —Some little time ago a firm in the city was prosccuted for employing a girl under sixteen years of age without her having obtained a permit from the Department. When this case was reported in the Press other employers naturally inquired into- their, own position as to whether any of their employees were similarly situated. In one of the cases mentioned tho employer founcj that out of a great number of young persons employed by him-there was one just undor sixteen years of age. He immediately sent her to tho Labour Department to explain matters and to obtain a permit, which was granted. A month later the\ employer received a- summons citing him before tho magistrate for having committed a breach of the Factories Act. He was summoned on information supplied by himsblf. In the'light of recent developments on tho West .Coast and the way in which tho workers have defied the labour laws, employers are wroth at the Department's action. The "Star"_ says that ' the Otago Employers' Association are in communication with' the Minister for Labour in connection with tho matter.