BOY’S FATAL FALL.

Grey River Argus, 26 May 1922, Page 4

BOY’S FATAL FALL.

FATHER CRITICISED. FOR WOKKLW BOYS AT NIGHT. NVATAIATE, Mny 25. Strong comment by Coroner E. D. Alosley, S.M., whs passed on the action L»f a man in permitting his 11 -year-old son to assist him iu his avocation of night soil contractor at an inquest on Athol Stevens, aged 11, to-day. Thomas Henry Stevens, borough eontractor and farmer, said he took the boy with him to hold the horses. The boy went to bed at 6 o’clock in the evening, and awakened after 10, and returned to bed again about 2 o’clock in the morning. He was allowed io sleep till s o’clock. NVitn-ess sometimes took one son, and sometimes the other, aged 13. They assisted in any way with his work. Witness was only out two nightweekly. Further evidence showed the boy was ordered to get down from a dray one bight to adju<4 th.- harness. The father he: rd him cry out, and took him home. He summoned a doctor. The boy’s kail!- v was removed later, he d i.-d a fort n e.ht aft er. The \erdi. i was that deceased 'lied as a result of Injurie.-; received in fail ing o:f a night carl. The ('oroner ad-l-ed th; ’ th'- father -hould ha\e h:.d more thought for iju < liiolien. Legislation prohibited boys under 11 working in factories, hut hr thought it didn't apply to the ]>;•(■ icnt case. However, I’m law should 'a-bsolutely prohibit children being employed in such a manner, which should not be tolerated in a civilised country such as New Zealand.