BOYS ON MILK RUNS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1930, Page 3

BOYS ON MILK RUNS

EMPLOYERS FINED

[By Telegraph, Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, November 10

Two unusual prosecutions under the Shops and Offices Amendment Act were heard before Mr W. IT. Woodward, S.M., in the Police Court when Claude Charles Archer and Septimus G. Knight were each fined £1 for employing a. boy under 16 years of age to- deliver milk before 7 a.m.

Mr Georgeson, of the Labour Department, said that Archer had employed a hoy at G a.m.., and in the case of Knight the hoy of 12 years employed by him had started work at 5.30 a.m. The cases had been brought to prevent boys working at early hours. There were allowed to get up as early as 3 a.m., and when they went to school later, they fell asleep over their desks.

“I was ignorant of the law,” said Archer. The Magistrate: Does not you common sense tell you that you must not employ hoys at that hour of the day ?

Defendant: I used to see boys at 3 and 4 in the morning and I did not know it was illegal. I put the hoy off as soon as I was told about it. The Magistrate (to Mr Georgeson) : It that true?

Mr Georgeson: He said he would drop the matter. We have to bring these cases before the court to- give publicity to them.