A Baker's Boy.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20278, 12 April 1934, Page 8

A Baker's Boy.

Dear Sir, —I should like to call ycur attention to a practice that appears to be already established amongst provision firms in the city, but particularly, to my knowledge, amongst the bakers. During some time past bread has been delivered daily to my home, not by the carter, who drives the conveyance, but by a boy who “ assists ’* him on his rounds. He has not only delivered the bread, but also the monthly bill, which I have paid to him, the boy signing the bill as a receipt. Yes- • erday'the boy appeared to be dead tired when he arrived at my home at midday, and when I spoke to him about it he told me that he was falling asleep all the time. The boy was only about 14 years old, but he told me that he worked from 5 a m. to close on 5 p.m. every day. with the exception of the half-day. During Easter these hours were greatly extended on the days cn which there were deliveries. For this service he was paid 8s a week, whether by the firm or the carter I am not certain, but I take it it is by' the firm, as he is allowed to accept money and sign receipts on behalf of the firm. Could >*ou tell me, sir, if there is any coverage for these boys under the award, or what protection there is from this form of child slavery?—l am, etc., HOUSEHOLDER.

Work of this nature is covered by the Shops and Offices Act, which provides:—

“7 (1) A shop assistant shall not be employed in connection with the business of the shop—(a) For more than forty-eight hours (excluding meal-times) in any one week; nor (b) for more than nine hours (excluding meal-times) in any one day, except on one day in each week, when the employment may be for eleven hours (excluding meal-times); nor (c) for more than five hours continuously without an interval of at least one hour for a meal; nor (d) at any time after 1 o’clock in the afternoon of one working day in each week, which day shall (subject to the provisions of section twenty-one hereof) be the day on which the shop is required to be closed for such half-holiday as hereinafter provided. 11 (a) Every shop assistant who is employed in any capacity in a shop shall be entitled to receive from the occupier payment for the work at such rate a 6 is agreed upon, being not less than ten shillings in any one week, with annual increments of five shillings a week until a wage of thirty shillings a week is reached, and thereafter not less than thirty shillings a week.”—Ed., “ Stax.”