BOY LABOUR

Grey River Argus, 30 April 1936, Page 2

BOY LABOUR

ILLEGAL OVERWORKING. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 29. Charges of exploitation of boy labour wore levelled against Packer, Jones. Ltd., timber merchants, by the Labour Department, in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Informations under the Factories ’ Act concerning fifteen boys, wore heard, but the total number of eases which could have been brought, said. Mr. Bailey, for the Labour Department, was 155. Tho number of hours’ overtime worked between September 29. 1935. and March 12 Inst, was 17.14. Charles James Jones, manager of the firm, pleaded guilty to all the charges. On the first four charges, a penally of .£5 in each ease was imposed. “The circumstances of these eases appear 1 O indicate a total disregard of the provisions of the Factories AC, and general exploitation of boy labour,’’ said Mr. Bailey. "Boys aged 14 were worked without permits for more than the stipulated hours, and some were not paid the correct overtime i-ate for work on Saturday- afternoons and Sundays. One boy had worked 395} hours’ overtime, making butter boxes, and was paid 4Jd am hour, when he should have been getting sixpence un hour.’’ Counsel for the defence, said tho

buys had to wait 'for timber to be dried, and while waiting 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.