ALLEGED CHILD SLAVERY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8871, 4 November 1907, Page 4

ALLEGED CHILD SLAVERY.

_+ —. Some days ago the Chief Justice speaking in the Gisborne Compensation Court in reference to the excessive value of land, said that the price had gone up in Taranaki and other districts to such an extent that people could not pay for labour, and had therefore to make slaves of thenchildren. What ground Sir Robert Stout had for his remarks we do not know, but there is no doubt f.hat in the recent past the subject was one that occupied a good deal .of public attention, and was frequntly referred to in Parliament. The position may be altered now, and we hope it is. At any rate the accuracy of Sir Robert's statement about child slavery has been strenuously denied in some of the dairying districts of Taxanaki. The "Eltham Argus," on Saturday, published the opinions of a number of farmers, doctors and teachers respecting the accuracy of the Chief Justice's remarks, and in every instance, it is said; the charge was refuted. According to the testimony of two doctors, no children, so far as they are aware, are suffering from overwork, and they declare that the little folk are and of unusually good physique. The headmaster of the Eltham School instances two cases of hardship, which occurred six years ago, but knows of none now, while the chair(man of the Eltham Dairy Company states that the allegations are quite unfounded, and that even amongst share milkers there is little child labour. Coming further south the evidence gathered is scanty, and not satisfactory. Mr Hertz, director of technical education for the WanganuiEducation Board declares that "it is difficult to get home lessons done in dairying district." In the face of the reports from the educational authorities respecting the overwork - ing of children in Taranaki, and the incompleteness and possible partiality of the evidence collected by the "Eltham Argus," there is room for doubt as to whether child life in the Taranaki province is as rose-coloured as is depicted. The question might easily be settled by an official investigation by the Government, and it would be well if this were undertaken with a view to satisfying the public mind or taking steps to prevent undue strain being placed upon children of tender years.