CHILD WORKERS INCREASING.

New Zealand Mail, 29 January 1902, Page 16

CHILD WORKERS INCREASING.

Should school children be allowed to work? Something is said o:i both sides of this interesting question by tho committee appointed by the Home Secretary, Mr Kitehie, to enquire into the question of the employment of children during school age. They find that there is an increasing tendency towards tho employment of children before morning school, between school hours, in me evening, and on Saturdays and Sundays. Mr Ritchie’s committee estimates tnat about 150,000 children work while attending school full time. This means about 4 per cent, of the whole of the school children of tho country. In addition, it is estimated that 100,000 cliildre tion, it is estimated that 100,000 children are working under the half-time rule. The committee, however, point out tnat while much of the child employment is bad for the rising generation from the point of view both of health and education, yet in some cases it is a good thing:—“Outdoor work, especially m summer and in the country, or fairly long hours is generally healthy and beneficial ; indoor work in. factories and workshops, and especially in uninspected domestic workshops and insanitary homes, is generally had, and accounts for many of tlie pale faces and stunted frames to be found in the schools. Employment in hop-picking was unanimously pionounced to have tlie best effect on children’s health : but in many cases it was said they came back looking brown and strong, but dirty, disinclined for regular school work, and morally deteriorated.” The committee recommended that the employment of children should be regulated by the local authorities.