CHILD SLAVERY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 227, 25 September 1907, Page 3

CHILD SLAVERY.

The charges of "child slavery" so often made against the dairy farmers of Taranaki were renewed in the House by the Member for'Hutt, Mr T. M. Wilford, who, in the course of his tirade, said that " settlers were actually trying to get all they could out of the milk," and so enlisted the aid of their families to share the work. What a dreadful state of things! His general assertions being denied by the Members for the l&ranaki provincial constituencies, Mr Wilford condescended to particularise in so far as to say that a Wellington newspaper made definite charges against a New Plymouth proprietor of dairy farms, and that although proceedings for libel were initiated they were not persevered with, the inference being that the charges of child slavery were well grounded. We know nothing of the proceedings, but we happen to have a photograph of the family of little " white slaves " supposed to hay*> been pointed at in the case, mentioned by Mr Wilford, and they are particularly healthy, well-grown, and intelligent looking children. When a general charge, such as Mr Wilford's, is mad-5 against a community or section of n community, the onus of proof rest? upon th accuser, but so far neither Mr Wilford nor any other accusers have been able to substantiate their charges of child slavery. Sir Robert Stout's authority was quoted. He is, no doubt, an authority on law and many other subjects, but he has practically no personal acquaintance with the subject of dairying in Taranaki or of the conditions under which it is carried on, and we protest against his name being used *o support these grave charges. The only evidence of any value at all yet adduced in support of the charges is that of the Inspector of Factories who was in storucted to make personal investigation, and, while believing that it is, possible to find isolated instances where children are doing more milking than is good for them we are not inclined to accept that official's opinion without confirmation. Somt people would find it hard work to mills; half a dozen cows, and would take perhaps half a day over it, while a Taranaki child, not in his teens, would regard it as less of a task than the home lessons set him by tli2 schoolmaster. We have said that it may be possible to find isolated instances of children being called on to do too much milking, but far worse " child slavery," as Mr Okey and Mi Symes told the House, may be seen in Wellington. Mr Wilford retorted that two wrongs do not make a right. Quite so, but is it right that he or anyone else should slander a class— whether it is the dairy farmers of Taranaki or the working people or Wellington—because of the fault of an isolated few? Perhaps Mr Wilford thinks it is very manly to stand up m the House in defence of the unhappy children who milk cows in Taranaki, but we think that it is time he and other caluminators of the district {either withdrew their statements or substantiated them. _If the Government is in possession of evidence

gathered by its officials that any farmer in Taranaki is making " slaves " of his children let us have it brought into the light of day. If there was no such evidence after a long investigation, lot us hear no more of the slanders against a respectable class of people, whose children will compare favourably in every respect, physically, mentally, and morally, with those of any other part of New Zealand.—Taranaki Herald.