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Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 149, 18 March 1908, Page 8

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. ■ i ./ March. 17..'' Mr. EL Hill; Chief Inspector, in'his annual report to tho Hawke's Bay^Education'BoVrd, directs' attention to 'the: milking. industry, as carried on in certain districts. "There aw," ho says,. ''occasions.when it.'is oncV.duby |t j speaUNm. behalf of those -wlibi are unable -to speak for themselves. No'one ac'ouaiiite-1 with, tho struggle arid hardships of tlio small settlers • would. willingly liuri' their prospers,or hinder'them .in tho'production of,'a- single gallon of milk,, but'if. tho milking'-'industry cannot bo carried' on without using and abusing child labour, the case calls for".'.inquiry.' Tho following isi an example; among' others, that might-bo cited.,' A family of six. children', thrco. boys and throe - :girls, wore;.attending a certain; school in March last.. Their ages wereVGirls: 13, 11; and 9 years'.respectively.;. boys—l 2, 10,.arid'''7, years;' and tho daily milking task 'was.The girl aged 13 milked ten cows in the morning aiid:?eu in tho evening;, the' girl aged 11' milked ten 'cows in the morning arid ten'in the ovening; the, girl aged 9 milked nine cows in . tlio morning and nine in the evening; the boy aged 12 milked eleven cows' in the; morning and eleven in' the evening • 'tlio, boy aged 10 milked oleven cows in tho,morning andoleven in the eveniug. The eldest girl was in Standard IV.'and the eldest boy in Standard 11. 'Milking'began in tho morning: at a quarter to six, arid finished at; eight. Preparations, ~then . begari. for,,'breakfast knd school,: and this round of work went on during the . spring ' and; summer' rii'onths. Theso children had to attend school for fivo hours, daily, and,it is not difficult to realise that their: progress was slow. Information received from teachers satisfies' mo that a number of children aro being overworked,, and attention is drawn, to "the matter, in the hope that: tho Board. will ; bb' able .to lessen' tho. hardships -of children tin.; the direction - indicated;" -