A BOY’S DEATH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2434, 27 May 1922, Page 3

A BOY’S DEATH.

ftTPONG COMMENT OF CORONER. Waimate, Wednesday. Strong comment was passed by the Coroner, Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., on the action of a 'man in permitting his 11 -year-old son to assist him in the avocation of •night-soil contractor. At the inquest on the body of Athol Stevens, aged 11 years, on Wednesday, Thomas Henry borough contractor and farmer, said lie took the hov with him to hold the horse. The boy went to bed at six o'clock .-every evening, was awakened after ten. and returned to bed again about two o’clock in the morning. He was then allowed to sleep till eight o’clock. The witness sometimes took this son and sometimes another aged 13. He was never assisted in any way with „his work. WitiYess was only out two nights weekly. Further evidence showed that the boy was ordered to get down from the dray one night to adjust the harness. The father heard him cry out, took him home, and summoned a doctor. The hoy’s kidney was removed later, and he died a fortnight after. A verdict was returned that the boy died as a. result of injuries received through falling off a nightcart. .The Coroner added that the father should have had more thought for his children. The law' prohibited boys under 14 from working in factories, bnt he thought it did not apply to the present ease. However, the law should absolutely prohibit children from being eraployed in such a manner, which should not be tolerated in a civilised country such as New Zealand.