OFFENCES ADMITTED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 182, 30 April 1936, Page 8

OFFENCES ADMITTED

Wrongful Employment Of Boys TIMBER CONCERN FINED By Telegraph.—Press Association. Oliristcliurcli, April 29. Charges of exploitation of boy labour were levelled against Packer Jones, Ltd., timber merchants, by the Labour Department in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Information under the Facotries Act concerning fifteen boys were heard, but the total number of cases which could have been brought, said Mr. R. T. Bailey, who appeared for the Labour Department, was 155. The num. ber of hours’ overtime worked between September 29, 1935, and March 12 last, was 1714. Charles James Jones, manager of the firm, pleaded guilty to all the charges. On the first four charges a penalty of £5 in each case was imposed. “Tlie circumstances iu these cases appear, to indicate a total disregard of the provisions of the' Factories Act and a general exploitation of boy labour,” said Mr. Bailey. Boys aged fourteen were worked without permits for more than the stipulated hours, and some were not paid the correct overtime rate for work on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. One boy had worked 3951 hours’ overtime making butter-boxes, and was paid 41d. an hour when lie should have been getting 6d. an hour. Counsel for the defence said that the boys had to wait for timber to be dried, and while waiting they did practically nothing. There was no compulsion on the boys. Defendant had not treated the boys harshly, but had often purchased clothing for boys in poor circumstances. The boys were keen to work overtime.