North Otago Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1876.

North Otago Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1198, 14 February 1876, Page 2

North Otago Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1876.

The law relating to the employment of females, children, and young persons has occupied a considerable share of the attention of Parliament during the last three years. Owing to the exertions principally of the late member for Waikaia an Act, under the title of " The Employment of Females' Act," was passed in 1873, which underwent amendment in 1874, and was further very extensvely amended — we cannot say altogether improved — last session. That legislation on the subject was necessary, and that its benefits will become increasingly apparent with the growth of our cities and the concurrent extension of manufacturing, we have no doubt, and it is precisely because the classes legislated for cannot protect themelves that their protection by legislation is necessary. We are quite aware that it was contended last year that many women employed in factories were themselves anxious that the length of the lawful working hours should be increased ; but, as against that, may state that we have been informed, on apparently good authority, that some at least of those who expressed that wish did so under pressure, having received indirect but easily-

understood intimation that if they did not do so the services of more compli* ant employees would possibly be found more desirable. We are quite ot opinion that the Legislature has done wisely in restricting the hours of labor for women and children, and are inclined to think that other matters, not as yet the subject of enactment, will yet have to be provided for by law. We have in our mind's eye the case oi a place where a good many females were employed, where the building was situated on open ground in full sight of of every passer-by, and yet in connection with the establishment certain necessary offices were conspicuous by their absence. The attendant inconvenience and unpleasantness must be left to the reader's imagination. That proper provision should be made as regards such matters, should be compulsory on the proprietors of all workshops and factories. We suppose we should be too much in advance of the times if we advocated that there should be a general early closing law, limiting the hours during which shops, with certain exceptions (such perhaps as chemists, &c.) might be kept open, although it is, we believe, a fact that the large majority of retailers would like to see such a law passed, the present long hours being literally forced upon them by a minority in every community ; but for ourselves we do not see that there would be any hardship in the operation of such a measure, while we can see that large advantages, moral and social, would flow from it. We commend the matter to the various Early Closing Associations, and feel convinced that petitions to the House in favor of such a measure would be signed by the large majority of tradesmen in every town in the Colony. But to return to the subject more particularly under review, it will no doubt be of interest to point out what are the modifications of previous legislation as regards the employment of females and children, effected by the Amending Act of last session. Shortly stated, they are these : — " Factory" is defined to moan any manufactory, workshop, or other establishment or business where any female, child, or young person is employed ; " child" meaning boy or girl between ten and fourteen years of age, and " young person" meaning boy or girl between fourteen and eighteen. No child under the age of ten may be employed in any factory, under penalty to the employer of L50, and no child, young person, or female may be employed continuously for more than 4^ hours, without an interval of at least half an hour for a meal. In factories where children are employed, they may be employed in morning or afternoon " sets" or " shifts," or for the whole day on alternate days, subject to the following regulations, viz. : — (1) Where they are employed in such sets or shifts, no child employed before noon (on any day except Saturday) may be employed after one o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, of, if the dinner hour fa earlier than one o'clock, after the dinner hour. (2) When they are employed on alternate days, children may be employed for the same hours, and with the same hours for meals as young persons and women ; but they may not be employed in any manner whatever on two successire days. During the time, or any part of the time, allowed for meals, no child, young person, or female may be employed in the factory, or be allowed to remain in any room, in which any employment' within the meaning of the Acts is being carried on. We draw special attention to the words italicised, as infraction of this or any provision of the Act renders liable to a penalty not exceeding £50, recoverable in a summary way before any two justices. Notices are required to be posted in eveiy factory, specifying the hours of employment, and whether children aie to be employed in sets, or shifts, or on alternate days, and copies are to be sent to the Resident Magistrate and Chief of Police of the town or district. Special provision is made in the case of woollen, cloth, flannel, and hose factories worked by steam, water, or other motive power permitting the employment of females, for any period of eight hours during the day, between six in the morning and six in the evening ; and saleswomen in retail places of business are exempted from the operation of the Act, except in so far that they may not be employed or retained for work afttr the place of business is closed to the public. A further exemption clause specially provides that females employed in printing offices may be so employed on Saturdays up fco half-past four in the afternoon, the Saturday half-holiday being in all other cases than the exceptions stated, secured to female employees.

Sxtez MjliIi. — Mails for Europe, via Suez, close here to-morrow, at 4 a.m. Letters must therefore be posted to-night.

The Volunteers. — The members present at the Inspection Parade on Friday should hare been— No 1 Company, 24; Artillery, 21 ; Citizen C&dets, 37.

Waitaki-Moebaki Kaiewat. — It appears as though it was intended to open the line to Maheno as soon ns possible, tenders being called in another column for the erection of a passenger station at that place.

Pound at Cave Vailey. — It is Notified in the " Provincial Gazette" that a public pound has been established in Cave "Valley, on section 23, block 3, and that Mr George Grainger has been appointed poundkeeper.

A Correction. — By a printer's error, the •word " Jenkinson" was substituted in our Saturday's leader for the word " Jenkinsism." The explanation is necessary, as the substitution made destroys the meaning of the paragraph.

Cbown G-bants. — It is notified in the <c Gazette" that Crown grants for the land, and in favor of the person after-mentioned, are ready for issue, viz., Helen France, sees. 57, 58, 59, 64, 76, 77; 78, 79, and 80, block 2, Papakftio.

Cbown Kangeb job Otepopo. — An insufficient number of licenses for the Otepopo Hundred having been taken out, no wardens cnn be elected, and the Waste Lands Board has therefore appointed Mr James It. Elder to act as Banger, under the 129th clause of I '< The Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872." ,

Mobbaei Hundbed.—A meeting for tbo election of fire wardens for tbii Hundred will bo held at the Schoolhouae Hampden on the 23rd inst., at 6.30 p.m. Mr Valpy will preside.

ROAD Ciosingk — Notice is given in the " Gazette" that a meeting of the Provincial Executive will be held on the 17th inst., to consider objections to the closing of certain roadlines in the Otepopo and other Road Districts.

Oahabu Rices.—Persons interested are reminded that nominations for the following events in the programme of the forthcoming race meeting, under the Auspices of the North Otago Turf Club—viz., the Hurdle Handicap, N.O.T.O. Handicap, and Tradesmen's Handicap—must be sent in to the Secretary, at the Empire Hotel, under sealed cover, not later than 8 o'clock this evening.

The Speakeb op the Legislative Council.—It is rumored, says the "Southland Times," that Sir J. L. 0. Richardson, the Speaker of the Upper House, will not offer himself again for that office, preferring to take a more active part in the debates. In that event, probably Colonel Richmond, O.B., the former Chairman of Committees in that branch of the Legislature, would be elected.

Lecxtjbb on Victobia.—We remind the public that Mr Charles Bright's lecture on the above subject is announced to be delivered this evening in the Masonic Hall. We hope to see the house crowded in all its parts, as we believe that the lecture in question will be a treat which no one should miss, especially as this will be the sole opportunity of hearing Mr Bright in Oamaru, as he appears for one night only.

Gbakmab School Cadets. — At their parade on Friday afternoon, the Grammar School Cadets mustered 51 of all ranks, under command of Lieut. Headland, and were put through an hour's good sharp drill by Sergt.-Major M'Pherson. The new Rector Mr Thornton, appears like his predecessor, Captain Fitzgerald, to take a great interest in the corps, which promises to keep up its creditable reputation.

The Cabandinis.—From a private letter from Bombay, dated December 9, the "Hobart Town Mercury" takes the following extract: —" The two Miss Carandinis have been removed by Hymen from the stage, not of life, but of the concert room. The youngest made a rapid conquest of young Mr Adams, an engineer in the Public Works department; and the elder of Capt. Morland, the TrnnSDorfc Ageut and Assistant Superintendent of Marine, who is about to marry her. Mr Adams married right off —a ten day's campaign."

Thr Gbanada and the Fbisco Mail. — The Wellington correspondent of the "Southland Times " telegraphs to that' paper : From private advices there are serious apprehensions 1 as to the safety of the Granada, with the San Francisco mail. As she had passengers for New Zealand it is not thought likely that she would go direct to Sydney. All the other Pacific Company's hoats came on to Auckland. It is feared that she has either broken down or is on a coral reef, like the Macgregor and the Tartar. If she has gone to Sydney the mails cannot reach, southern New Zealand for three weeks.

Cattghp AT LASr. — Under the heading, « Remarkable Case," the " Timaru Herald" of Saturday writes: — A rather extraordinary case came under our notice yesterday. Thomas Bassctt, alias Tommy Dodd, who probably i3 as much deserving of the cognomen C( gaol bird" as any man about, was " wanted" in July, 1870, to answer a charge of baring assaulted one Neil Fleming in Oamaru, and although he lias seryed several terms of imprisonment since that time in this part of the Colony, it was not until a day or two ago that he was identified as the naan who committed the assault alluded to. • He was Apprehended at Timaru on the charge, and '•\y the report of the Magistrate's Court's Frnpi-oflines. we nWrre that he has been remanded to Oamaru.

St. Luke's Church. — The Rev. the Incumbent (Rev. A. Gifford) announced yesterday that the opening services of the enlarged church had been postponed, in consequence of the Bishop of the Diocese being unable to attend, ana 1 for other reasons, until after the arrival of the new organ, now on its way, and the new furniture for the chancel. He also announced that the Eight Eev. the Bishop purposed holding a confirmation in the autumn, and intimated that he (Mr Gifford) would be glad to receive the names of intending candidates for the rite. He also reminded seatholders and intending seatholders that application for seats should be made on Tuesday or Thursday evening, when the Vestry would be in attendance for that purpose, at 7 p.m.