Farmer Fined For Employing Child Of 13

Northern Advocate, 26 January 1940, Page 3

Farmer Fined For Employing Child Of 13

Employment on a dairy farm of a child under the age of 15 and failure to keep a wages and holiday book in respect of the same worker were charged against Timothy Collinson. farmer, of Omaunu, in the-Kaeo Court yesterday. For Collinson, Mi*. L. Peace admitted both charges. For the Labour Department, Mr. G. Adler, Inspector of Factories, said an investigation had showed Collinson had employed ,a boy who at the tirfte of commencement of employment on a dairy farm was only 13 years of age. During a term of six months’ employment the boy had received only £1 in cash and clothes to the value of £5. At the end of that time he had run away, allegedly because Collinson had struck him with his fist. Collinson had refused to hand over the boy's clothes on request. No wages book had been kept in respect to the employment of the boy and Collinson had admitted he had not kept it because he knew he was committing a breach of the Act by employing a boy under the age of 15. Collinson had taken the boy to teach him farming .and had intended to pay him wages when he was able to strip cows and do other farm work, said Mr. Peace.

Collinson alleged that the boy was hard to control.

The magistrate (Mr. Ferner) said young people were not to be employed contrary to the Act, which had been enacted for a good cause. It was the duty of the Labour Department to see it was complied with and bring cases t.o the court when breaches were detected.

The court would support the department in the administration of the Act.

In view of the - heavy costs, the magistrate said he would impose a light fine.

Collinson was fined £1 10/ on the first charge and ordered to p,ay costs 19/-.

On the second charge he was convicted and discharged with costs 10/6. Witnesses’ expenses were fixed at 16/6.