CHILD SLAVERY SELDOM OCCURS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19154, 21 August 1930, Page 6

CHILD SLAVERY SELDOM OCCURS.

CASES NOTED MOST IN DAIRYING DISTRICTS

Few cases are reported in Canter - 1 ury -where children have to work for hours before school, followed, in consequence, by mental and physical exhaustion during their classes. The position does not appear to be as serious here as it is in Wellington, where reports to the Education Board have shown that boys have had to rise as early as 2 a.m. for work on milk rounds. In Canterbury the cases have occurred mainly in the dairying districts, according to Mr J. Angus, truant officer. Fie says that he has come across \ery few cases, and that the milking season brings the most complaints. An officer closely in touch with the work of Canterbury schools states that he. has never heard of children going to -ieep during schooi hours. Teachers in - ,untry districts had complained from Tune to time of children having to get up early in the morning, particularly in the milking season. This left the.m unlit to grapple with their schooi work. The Child Welfare Officer (Mr A. Bis>ett> does not come across many such cases in his work, according to a statement by him. Most of the cases of this sort with which he has to deal are of boys being out too late at night. This, he said, was generally a proof of lack •'t control in the home. Late hours left the boys unfit for work the following day, besides which they were inclined to get into mischief.