Criticises Manpower Officer For Directing Youths To Hotel Work

Northern Advocate, 19 December 1942, Page 4

Criticises Manpower Officer For Directing Youths To Hotel Work

(P.A.) DUNEDIN. This Day Criticism of the action of the Dunedin manpower officer in directing a 17-year-old youth into employment as a porter in an hotel was expressed by Mr O. G. Stevens when appearing in the City Police Court for a youth, suppression of whose name was ordered and who w r as charged with having stolen two glasses. Accused, it was stated by the prosecution, had taken the glasses from the hotel where he worked and, after purchasing some liquor, had. with a friend, taken two girls to a private hotel where they booked in for the night under assumed names as married couples. It was only asking fo r trouble counsel said, to employ lads of the age of accused in hotels where, it seemed, they could purchase as much liquor as they liked. “Discreditable Thing” It was, moreover, extraordinary that two youths who were little more than boys, should be able to book in at a private hotel as accused and his companion had done. It • was a discreditable than that a manpower officer should allow a boy to be employed in an hotel. It < was possible, the magistrate (Mr H.’ W. Bundle) observed that the manpower officer had not been in full possession of the facts. “I express the definite opinion, however,” his Worship added, “that boys of this age should not be employed as porters in hotels and I desire that the probation officer should discuss the matter with the manpower officer.” Accused was placed on probation for 12 months.