CHILD LABOR IN TARANAKI.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2230, 6 November 1907, Page 2

CHILD LABOR IN TARANAKI.

[To tiie Editor.] Sir—Your correspondent. Air. D. O’Sullivan, is clearly a- iurmcrfc friend,” but most certainly not tho friend of the farmers children iioi of the people generally. 1 touuil tlie hardiest and heat developed young New Zealanders in Southland and much maligned Taranaki. I lie most comfortable farm houses are Hie hpmes of tho so-called child slaves. Therefore it follows from this kind of reasoning that the plan ol utilising child labor should be encouraged ns it is beneficial to the children physically and to tlio employers socially and industrially. I know nothing of Mr O’Sullivan, but assuming that lie is a man employed during the day say for 8 hours, is lie prepared fo - r lidiiltli s sake to iimlk a dozen cows night and morning and do .all the necessary work attendant on such milking? Does he not think that his day’s work is sufkcient for liis ordinary needs and that, he might exercise himself jn a better and more improving way than _by messing for a couple of hours with the teats of a cow? Is this his conception of training for young children in this Neiv Zealand ol : ours? If so, I can well understand his remarks about one o. the Kingdom of tho Blind “who lops off tho branch on which he is perched.” It might be a very good thing indeed to lop off some of the farmers’ branches on which they sit just now. They raise the price of bread and of butter by a protective law which is . the disgrace of a colony like ours, and they actually have protection for the wheat and their butter which is not even conceded to working men in the matter of head tax upon incoming laborers and artisans. Every incoming into, this counry of a skilled or unskilled laborer is as ■much a menace to the wages of the working people wlio are here as is tlio incoming, or possible incoming, of flour and butter from other countries to - tho farmers. In fact, tlie protection afforded in this country is pist the thing to encourage child labor, and I can hardly imagine that any parent would support this in the Dominion of New Zealand. —I am, etc., HGisborne, Nov. 5.

AIUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

[To the Editor.]

Sir, —I have read with considerable interest- tho report of tho coupon ease upon which judgment was given this morning by the S.M. I have also at various times read of the exploits of Sherlock Holmes. Aly soul ie reioieed that in the instance under review a worthy successor to' that illustrious detective has arisen in our midst. It is a matter for congratulation that a local detective has s"o promptly nipped in the bud a pernicious practice tending to undermine the morals of tlie community and contravene the King’s statutes. It does, however, appear a trifle extinordinary that this detective upon receiving a candid acknowledgment of an unintentional breach of an Act by the Co-operative Stores did not first advise them .of their fault. It is surely of consequence to all that the law should be observed. It is apparent that the police think otherwise. All joking apart, this tunned detective has done good service to the community, and all thanks are due to those who are responsible for the latent talent which has, under liy-draulic-like pressure., produced such gratifying results. Long may lie live to exhibit it! —I am, etc., CONAN DOYLE (With many apologies). Gisborne, Nov. 5.

HOSPITAL AIATTERS.

[To the Editor.]

Sir, —I would like to know the reason, of the delay of the Trustees in dealing with Air. O’Dowd’s charge. It seems the Trustees are very quiet over the matter. I have heard it said they are oul.v waiting till it blows over, and then they will pass a vote of thanks to the medical gentlemen responsible, for tlie great skill and attention displayed, as was done oil a previous occasion. 'Alir. Editor, I would like to know if there is any truth in the rumor that Dr. Alorrisoii is to be reap pointed as medical officer to the hospital.—l am, etc., (SUBSCRIBER. . Gisborne, Nov. 5.