“CHILD SLAVERY."

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3319, 24 October 1919, Page 5

“CHILD SLAVERY."

Following up his protest in the House on Wednesd-.l_v against .‘‘child slave:-y,”ralld the moving of his amend"‘t‘lll' (I'lllL*-d out of order) to the Education Act Amendment Bill, the Hon. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill) asked the Prime Minister whether it was his intention to bring down legislation this session “dealing with the shameful and cruel conditions of child labour in this “country.” Some information, he added, had already been given in the 1.-lousc on the matter; and further evidence was contained in the report of the school medical inspector, who stated that in consequence of the work they had to do as milk-boys, messengcr—boys, and newsboys, before and after school, many of the boys in standards 4 to 6 of some city schools had no leisure time and were physically and mentally weary during school‘ hours.‘ New Zealand _he contended, was behind other countries“ in protecting our children against these conditions. ‘A Minister: Why didn’t‘ you do something when you were Minister for Education? Mr *l-lanan: Ask your colleagues; The «Prime Minister said that the 11m.tte1' was one that could not be settled hurriedly. It could not be satisfactorily dealt with in the end-of-the-session rush. He was prepared, however, to arrange to have inquiries made il'l.the recess Hy the department. H thought that was the proper thing to do.