BAKER FINED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 44, 14 October 1931, Page 2

BAKER FINED

BOYS UNDER 16 EMPLOYED IN BAKEHOUSE AT 4 A.M. The Inspector of Factories (Mr. F. Wilson) on Monday proceeded against a Rotorua baker, C. Stallard, on four counts alleging breaches of the Factories Act in respect of two lads employed in Stallard's bakery. The facts were admitted by Mr. J. D. Davys, who appeared for the defendant. Mr. Wilson stated that when he had visited Stallard's bakehouse on September 26 he had found two boys, one 14 and the other 15 years of age, employed there. Both boys had stated that they were in the habit of commencing at 4 o'clock each morning. He had pointed out to the defendant that it was against the regulations to employ any person under 16 years of age before 7 a.m. The older of the two boys, who was admittedly a big lad, for his age, was also doing work which was really that of a journeyman and for which he ought to have been apprenticed.

Mr. Davys said that defendant had employed both boys when they were out of work. The family of one was not in good circumstances, but as a result of the impending prosecutions both boys had now been dismissed. Mr. Stallard was not in a position to pay full wages to men, and consequently no one had been taken on to fill their places. One boy had been engaged in assisting in the delivery rounds, but he was very interested in the work and used to come down to the bakehouse early in the morning to see the baking. The magistrate imposed a fine of £2 in respect of each boy on the charges of employing persons under 16 years of age before 7 a.m., and a 10s penalty on each of two allied civil complaints.