Child Labor.

Evening Star, Issue 17594, 24 February 1921, Page 4

Child Labor.

The spectacle of young boys delivering milk in the early hours

of the morning, which

has been brought under the notice of the Arbitration Court in Auckland as something that should not be, is oiio that can be noticed in every town which has small dairy farms close to it. It may not be sleepiness or stupidity that makes the small boy regularly spill the milk on the doorstep and about it, but if he is wide awake and only careless when he begins work at that early hour one wonders if his faculties can be fully alert while the school hours pass over him later. It would not be strange if he were among the “ retardates,” the more so as it is not only before school that many of these small boys have to deliver milk. Evening finds them, very often, at the same task. It is a long day for those prematurely required to assist to earn the family’s livelihood. The court thought that the small boy—and girls also, in some cases—might be worked unduly, and it agreed to frame a clause intended to block this employment of child labor as far as possible. A word can be said lor the dairymen. There is eo eight hours a day in their work for themselves or their wives. It is labor which requires the services of all the family if farms, often dearly bought, are to be worked to the best advantage. Even at present prices for their produce, some' small dairy farmers might keep cows at a loss if a man had to be employed to take round the milk. It fs to the children’s interest, as well as that of their parents, that the family should be placed above financial stress. But the first interest of children is that their minds should not be dulled or their strength retarded by too much work of the wrong kind and too little play while their years are still tender. If those results are threatened by their employment to cany milk il cannot be too soon prohibited.

In view of the fact that tho prices of fat stock at tho Burnside sales have fallen and are still falling, the Dunedin butchers are reducing their retail prices from tomorrow. The further drop in tho values of fat stock is no doubt attributable to a largo extent to tho action of the freezing companies in reducing their buying limit for all lines suitable for export purposes. The reduction now announced is not the outcome of any common resolution to come down to this or that figure, so it is impossible to state exactly what the reduced prices will bo; but tho probabilities are that the drop will be somewhere about a penny per pound. The Marine Department has given permission to tho Dunedin Corporation to construct a cable across the- Upper Harbor and thus convey tho current which is to light Portobello. Those persons who viewed St. Clair Beach this morning to see the effects of the stormy south-westerly weather tliat has prevailed for nearly a week must feel tho pang that comes for a fine thing marred. The beach never before looked so wretched. The sand has quite gone from the basin in front of the esplanade, tearing stones exposed at a very low level. Thus scooping out extends to a lesser degree up to the third of the now groynes ;°in other words, there has been a cut that again afflicts the sandhill that was in jeopardy last winter, and at the top of the recent high tides tho face of that sandhill was further scratched away. The crooked pile in tho first of the new groynes has been torn out. The strength of the tide was manifested two days ago by its breaking off five of tho piles in too third of tho new groynes. The wind moderated to-day, end there will probably bo a change shortly, bringing back some of tho sand. Meanwhile the spectacle is of desolation and ugliness. Observers ask if it is not about time that tho groynes began to make their influence felt in staying such erosions. It is understood that tho Harbor Board will at its meeting tomorrow discuss a recommendation from the_ Works Committee to give notice to tho City Corporation that tho use of the extended tip site in Wharf street must be discontinued at once. Tho Minister of Education said in Dunedin that tho cost of building is from 25 to 30 per cent, less in tho South Island than in tho North. He should brow, since numbers of estimates and tenders come before him. A number of Otago firemen who are appointed to represent their brigades at the conference and demonstration in Napier left Dunedin this morning. The five men from Tapaimi travelled by tho first express. Others who chose the second express were Mr B. Winn, of Lawrence, who is a past president; Mr A. Wallis (senior branchman) and five of his colleagues from Core; and Mr John Padgot, the solo representative from Alexandra. The Naseby three have also gone. The conference is to start on Monday. The demonstration will bo tho first in New Zealand since 1915. Repairs to the floor of the Leith Canal are deemed necessary. Rolling boulders have abraded tho concrete in places. A small sum of money will probably suffice. The Mayor of Greymouth, Mr J. D. Lynch, in* a speech last week said that while there were troublous times throughout the world, and even in the Dominion, the West Coast, from a productive point of view and in proportion to its population, was doing its full share, and probably more than most' places in New Zealand. It was an absolutely self-contained portion of the Dominion, and there was a considerable amount of wealth in the district, As an old banker he spoke well within the mark when he said that deposits in the savings banks, including the Hokitika Savings Bank, of which he was a trustee, exceeded £1,500,000 As to advances—and he could speak with the same knowledge—probably they did not amount to a quarter of a million. Their exports far and away exceeded their imports. This was only an indication of what the district should bo able to do later on. The Coast had many possibilities which would become realised when the Arthur’s Pass tunnel was completed. In sending a telegram of instructions for the suppression of an item of news found to bo erroneous, journalists, especially American journalists, frequently use tho conventional word “kill.” This fact, yell known enough amonrr newspaper correspondents, but not at all known to the Swiss police, recently caused a good deal of trouble to the representative of an American journal attending the Leagtfe of Nations Conference at Geneva. The correspondent had sent to his newspaper an item relating to tho expected visit of Mr Lloyd George,'which turned out to be incorrect, and at once cabled “ Kill Lloyd George.” Within a couple of hours he was amazed to receive a domiciliary visit from the police, with its usual accompaniments —rooms turned upside down and inside out, inventory of all papers, seizure of all those thought to be suspicious, seals here, seals there, interrogatories, etc.—in short, all the little attentions characteristic of the Continental police and judicial authorities on such occasions. Fortunately the correspondent was well known to all his colleagues, who were able to assure the police that he was neither a Sinn Feiner nor a Bolshevik. Explanations followed and all ended happily. Two cases of drunkenness came before Mr H. Y. Widdowson, SAL, at the City Police Court this moriiing. A first offender, who did not appear, was fined the amount of bail (20s), in default fortyeight hours’ imprisonment. Charles Kay was fined 20s, with the alternative of three days’ imprisonment. The Nelson police have received word re the Murchison bank robbery that the stolen money (£2.000) has been recovered. —Nelson Press message. Mr Paulin’s forecast, communicated at 1.50 p.m.!—S.W. to N.E. winds, and rain showers; indications are for brief improvement.

A Dargavillo message announces that Pateraan’s flax-mill was destroyed by fire last night. The brigade saved the machinery. The whole of the estate of the late Mrs May Soloy, the oldest resident of Otane, Hawke’s Bay, who died at the ago of 94years, has been bequeathed to charitable institutions, which will benefit to the extent of between £5,000 and £6,000. Mrs Soley’s executors found about £I,OOO in notes and cash in her dwelling.

Mr M. Mullineux, official photographer, writes to the Dunedin branch of tho Red Cross from Calais, under date December 13, 1920, as follows: —“I have just returned from a very unsuccessful photo trip. The weather was all against mo, and finally the snow drove me home. I had fog and rain against me for seven days, and the snow came on the eighth. I have now a waiting list of 149 New Zealand graves to photograph. I shall now have to leave them till the spring. It would be a waste of time to wait about, as the snow may lio for weeks. I think that I may say that our season is now over. We have had through our hands 124 Canadians and 117 New Zealanders. In addition, I have sent forty photos of New Zealand graves and thirteen of Canadian graves. As I said above, there is now a waiting list of 149. These forty photos represent much labor, for the requests came at various times, and several journeys were necessary.' I must have travelled over 1,000 miles to obtain them. Another year I shall make a monthly list, and then make the one trip. This will save much time and money. You will be glad to know that it has all been worth the trouble and expense. We have had most wonderful letters of appreciation, and I consider that nothing which helps those in sorrow and distress is too much trouble.”

Drapers and boot assistants will hold | their annual picnic at the Spit on Saturday. Boat leaves wharf at 9.15 sharp. School bags, boys and girls, 2s 6d, 3s 9d, 4s 9d, 5s 6d up, Todd’s White House Arcade, George street.—[Advt,.] St. Kilda Band, assisted by local leading vocalists, will give a concert in His Majesty’s Theatre on Wednesday next, at 8 p.m. Proceeds will bo applied towards the visit to tho Nelson band contest. Hero’s a paradox: Watson’s No. 10 is A 1 whisky.—[Advt.] Ladies recommend Martin’s Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all chemists and stores. See you got tho genuine.—[Advt.] Intending exhibitors at autumn show of the Dunedin Horticultural Society, which is to take place in tho Art Gallery on Wednesday next, are reminded tliat entries will close at the secretary’s office on Monday evening.

Now Zealanders on service found that there is no brandy like Cgnac brandy, and no Cognac brandy like Martoll’s.—[Advt.]