“CHEAP BOY LABOUR”

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4419, 15 November 1934, Page 3

“CHEAP BOY LABOUR”

CARTING BY BICYCLE;

A suggestion by the New Zealand Alliance of Labour, that a by-law be pssed prohibiting business firms from employing boy or youth labour virtually as “express delivery,” has been considered by the By-laws Committee of the Christchurch City Council. In a. report to the council the committee drew attention . to the number of traders in Christchurch having huge box out-riggers attached to bicycles for the delivery and general carrying of the firms’ requirements in the city limits. “It is considered,” the report continued, “that this practice is most injurious to the boys because of the loads they are propelling around the streets in all kinds of weather, and it is suggested that legitimate carrying firms or other means of delivery have been discarded for cheap boy labour. “The committee fully recognises the evils arising from this practice, but, as the boys are not- hawking goods, but arc delivering the goods ordered from the business firms by clients, the matter does not come under the control of the council. The committee, however, has drawn the attention of the Labour Department to the matter, and has asked if something could be done to stop this method of delivery by cheap boy labour.” A member said that, while he agreed that no boy should be asked to trundle undue loads, he thought it Was necessary to be careful that they did not close avenues of em--1 'f'vinenit for boys. The town clerk said: a letter bad been received from the secretary of the Alliance of Labour forwarding a letter from the Minister of Labour, the Hon. J. Bitchener, in which the Minister stated that he was causing immediate inquiries to be made into the matter to ascertain if legislation were necessary.