"VERY FLAGRANT CASE."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19169, 7 November 1925, Page 12

"VERY FLAGRANT CASE."

SMALL BOY'S LONG HOURS. BAKER FINED MAXIMUM SUM. " This is a very flagrant- case," remarked Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, after hearing a charge against Leslie F. Brookes, a baker, for having employed a hoy under 16 years during certain hours in his factory. Mr. Hollows, for the Labour Department, said the boy was 14 years old, and had beon employed four days of the week from 5.30 a.m., and for the rest of the week from earlier hours. The law did not allow a boy of that age to be employed before 7.45 a.m. Moreover, the boy was brought back some evenings for tho purpose of weighing flour. When investigations were made the boy was weakly and sickly-looking, and that was not to be wondered at. He was being paid 32s a week at, tho latter portion of the time. Defendant said he could not afford to employ a man to do the boy's work. The boy was well satisfied, and so was his mother. Defendant said he did not know about the provisions of the Act at first. Tho Magistrate: You must know the law'relating to your own trade. The time is past in Now Zealand when a hoy of .14 is allowed to start, work so early. This is a very flagrant case—a boy working such hours. It is tho very offence which the Act is designed to prevent. Defendant said ho could" not iifjprd to employ a man. The magistrate said if that were so he would have to go out of business.- . 'Hie maximum penalty of £lO was imposed.