BREACH OF THE FACTORIES ACT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10314, 5 April 1894, Page 3

BREACH OF THE FACTORIES ACT.

At the Christchurch Stipendiary Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, before Mr R. Bcetham, Stipendiary Magistrate, Baltin Bros, were charged with employing a boy named Peter M’Gumness, aged sixteen, after one o’clock on Saturday afternoon, March 24, contrary to the Factories Aot. Mr Stringer appeared to prosecute for the Inspector of Factories. Defendant denied the offence. John Lomas, Inspector of Factories, deposed that the defendants owned an aerated water manufactory. On March 24 witness called at the factory, and saw a boy named Peter M’Guinness, aged sixteen, working there at 2.30 p.m. The boy was carrying boxes of bottles when witness saw him. Made inquiries and found that he was not a piece worker. • Ballin deposed that the boy was told to go home at one o’clock on the date in question. The boy came back to work on his own account. Pater M’Guinness deposed that he was told to go home at one o’clock on Saturday afternoon, March 24. To Mr Stringer: On a previous Saturday the inspector called and told him not to work after one o’clock on Saturday afternoons. To Mr Beetham: Was so fond of work that he went back to do some more on Saturday afternoon, March 24, Mr Beetham said it was defendant’s business to see that the law was carried out, also to see that the boy left off work at one o’clock. As this was a first offence, defendants would be fined 20s, with coats.