BOYS EXPLOITED

Hokitika Guardian, 21 August 1930, Page 3

BOYS EXPLOITED

ON MILK ROUNDS. (By Telegraph—Press Association). WELLINGTON, August 20. The employment of school children in the early hours of the morning, before attending school was brought to the notice of the Wellington Education card to-day, when it was stated that boys were up as early as 2 o’clock in the morning to go on milk rounds, and, in consequence, had been iound asleep at their desks in school. Jt was Further, affirmed that the practice existed in many places in New Zealand, and was not peculiar to Wellington. Inquiries are to be pursued. An official report upon visits to -schools had been made in committee, and .it was during the amplification of that report that the- discussion arose, the Chairman agreeing to the publication ol the general discussion. A visit had been made to a school in the suburbs, and. a, brief talk given to the children in the upperstandards. It was noticed that one boy went to sleep at his desk. The visitor remarked to the hoy as Tie went away. “You. are tired, aren’t you.” “Yes” replied the hoy. “ T have been up since . 2 o’clock Ibis morning.” Another hoy, sitting close by, followed up by remarking: “Yes and T was up at half past two.” Further inquiries revealed that the bo vs were employed in the early hours on a milk round, and had done four or five hours’ work before going to school.