NIGHT WORK.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 598, 28 August 1909, Page 10

NIGHT WORK.

WAREHOUSE AND TECHNICAL SCHOOL. A BOY'S DISMISSAL. Hie JJircctor of tho Technical School (Mr. La Trobo) has been investigating cases of irregular attendance. Ho has received from parents explanations good, bad, and mdifter■ont ; for : tho remissness ot their sons. One father,,Wfotoithat there was no cxcuso what- ■ -over for "his- lad'a non-attendance, and that he hopod he would bo duly corrected. But striking outcome of the directpr's inquiries"was : in regard to a certain' boy,' whose case Mr. La Trobo described as a hard one. Ho had'paid a term's fees, and attended two commercial classes for half a term. when, tho manager of the warehouse at which he worked required him to go back at night/.,: . The boy;, was attending classes oil ohly>two nighfes of the week, but could not obtain exomptiojr. from "tas warehouse duties for ■ those nights.: For half a term he was uhablo to attend the classes, and then ho made application "that lus half-term should bo made ..up to hira when the term for which he had fees was -finished. Tho application was agreed to m tho. special circumstances, and the.boy. renewed his request at tq;*be fallowed two Slights off a -week to "attend the-classes. Hjs employer, who had previously threatened tho' alternative, is said to have replied that if the boy wished to attend the technical school at night i lie could leave the warehouse, and be was i virtually dismissed. There may be another side, to the ease which has not been made i public,, but the boy's statement, to the offect | here given, produced considerable indignation I ■ among the members of tho Technical School, Board last evening. . . ■Hit W. Allan thought that the conduct of thorboyls; employer was most harsh, and wishod .to know if no,steps could bo taken m the rtattori , .

:■ It was pomt«d,out that though the amount of overtime" in factories is limited by statute, :there • is no regulation in tho case of Warehouses. v.'' ■

Mr. D. M'Laren, M.P., while admitting that, tho flmployor had a legal right to work the night; strongly condemned his. naccion : in: bringing pressure on the lad to prevent his benefiting,by the training which the education: system provided. ; Tho chairman (Mr. J. P. Luke, ■ M.P. thought that the board:6hould follow,up tho :mafcter, Lads in warehouses had as. much ..right:'to themselves for . their'work :in life as tlioso in factories.. Tho law took care- vthat • in - < factories . were: properly :dealfc" and",if those:,in. warehouses wished ■. to improte , themselves by attending cocismercial classes the- board should do its best •to see that: they were given\the opportunity. .Mr. M'Laren moved that 'the matter be brought under, the notice of the Minister for Education., 'There might, be.simifar cases to. ■this in other parts of the country, and as tho countiy. HS a.:whole mado provision for tech-: Iriteal education, thfe matter should be taken 'up. '. '' * : .'■.'-■■ '■"■ The motion was passed:'unanimously. '