BAKER FINED

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 287, 7 November 1925, Page 3

BAKER FINED

PENALTY OF TEN POUNDS. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Nov. 7. “This is a very flagrant case,” said Air F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court to-day after bearing a charge against Leslie F. Brookes, a baker, following employed a boy under 10 years of age during certain hours in bis factory. Air Hollows, for the Labour Department, said that the boy was 14 years old, and had been employed on four days of the week from 5.20 a.m., and for the rest of the week from earlier hours. The law did not allow a hoy of that age to be employed before 7.45 a.m. Moreover, the boy was brought back on some evenings lor tho purpose of weighing flour. When investigations were made the boy was weakly and sickly-looking, and that was not to be. wondered at. Tie was being paid J2s a week at the latter portion of his time. Defendant said he could not afford to employ a man to do the boy’s work. The hoy was well satisfied, and so was his mother. Defendant said lie did not know about the provisions of the. Act at first. The Alagistrato: You must know the law relating to your own trade. Tho time is past in New Zealand when a hoy of LI is allowed to start work so early. This is a very flagrant case — a boy working such hours, it is flic very offence, which the Act is designed to prevent. Defendant said he could not afford to employ a man. The Magistrate said that if that were so he would have, to go out of business. The maximum penalty of CIO was imposed.