CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 4271, 3 November 1876, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

FiIIDAV, SbVEMBEB 3. (Before his Worship the Mayor, and B. ff Ward, Esq., J.P's.)

Employment op Females Thomson (of Thomson, Strang, and Co.) was charged with allowing several young women in the firm's employ to work after 2 p.m. on Saturday last. Defendant admitted the charge, saying: It is quite true that the girls were on the premises on Saturday last at the hour stated—a quarter to 3 o'clock—but I wish the Bench clearly to understand that it was without my knowledge or consent, and in direct violation of a standing rule of the firm—that no one is to remain employed on the premises after the allowed hours of business. They were there, therefore, of their own free will, and I think Mr Mallard will bear me out when I say that I wai very much surprised and annoyed on going with him upstairs to the workroem to find them employed. We have no desire whatever nor ever had, to exact anything but what is have invariably gixen instructions to refuse orders they cannot overtake, and at whatever sacrifice to clear out the room at the proper hours. No one can sav that we ever asked or even wished them to stay and work beyond the proper hours -the very opposite is the case-and I take this opportunity of publicly saying so —after seeing the reports that have akeadv appeared in the papers. In fact, as a rule, we are easy and good-natured with our girls and it is entirely their fault I am Tiere to-day—lsabella Scoullar, who has chanre of the workwomen, deposed that she had received strict instructions from her employers not to allow the women to work after hours but being pressed on Saturday she detained them—The Bench, holding that defendant was net aware of the violation of the law, inflicted the mirimum penalty of Is and costs. J