CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 17, 4 December 1883, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible tor the opinions expressed by our correspondents]. FEMALE SLAVERY. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Among the numerous and practical statutes which became law in 1881, that regulating the hours during which females should be employed in workshops is worthy of notice, particularly as there are in Gisborne a few grasping persons, who, for the sake of a little profit, not only render themselves liable to a penalty of £5O, but also lag so far behind the spirit of the times, as to compel the few females they have in their employ to work on Saturday afternoons until 6or 7 o’clock. Clause 6of the Statute under notice provides •• that every female, and . , . shall have holiday on Saturday from two o’clock,” and also on every public holiday, without loss of wages. Section 9 also provides that the hours of employment shall be notified by written or printed placards, posted in the workrooms, ami copies of such notices are to be sent to the "Le..i<ient Magistrate whose duty it is to appoint xome person to see that the Act is carried out.

Now, sir, not one of the employers in Gisborne have fulfilled this condition, and the authorities simply stand by and see the statutes of the country rendered abortive. I therefore, trust, as usual, to the voice of “ the press ” to put an end to an abuse that may not be easily suppressed if allowed to go on.—Yours, &c., Englishman.