WHITE SLAVES OF THE DAIRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 20 September 1907, Page 3

WHITE SLAVES OF THE DAIRY

ALLEGATIONS IN THE HOUSE. TAKANAKI CHILDREN. In the House on Wednesday afternoon Mr Wilford, following up a question put to the Minister of Railways by Mr Okey, regarding hard-worked statiomuasters, drew the attention of the House to the "white slaves" of New Zealand on dairy farms in the Taranaki district. He slid these poor litte children had in the early morning to do milking, and then travel to school, where they fell asleep at their lessons. Why did not Mr Okey take up the cudgel for the "white slaves" of | New Zealand—the daughters and sor.s

of the fanners he represented? It was the cause of these young children he should champion. I!e did not know what was going to be the result, so far as miking a good class of individuals under such circumstances. The lion, member eoud not deny the facts. which hail been proved in the courts of the colony and referred to by \magistrates and judges. He, suggested that Mr Okey shoi'ld start an open crusade against the "white slavery" going en in Trixanaki. Mr Okey declared that (here were no white slaves in Taranaki. There were [ children in a much worse stale in the city of Wellington. Mr Symcs said be had listened with some surprise to the statement of (he member for (lie Unit, who could find' a ten times worse condition of affairs in Wellington. Mr Wilford: Two blacks don't make

a white. Mr Cymes denied Mr Wilford'q stafements altogether. He ventured to assert that the children in Taranaki were the healthiest and finest in New Zealand, and these were the children who milked cows night and morning. The member for the Hutt had said he had"

seen children going to sleep over their desks. "I've seen lion, members no to sleep in the House." He came from a district where dairying was the chief industry, and there thev found a happy, | well-fed and well-clothed lot of children. He knew it had been stated Lithe Chief Justice that there were white slaves in Tarannki, but the Chief Justice knew absolutely nothing about it, or he would not have made such a statement. Mr Jennings said he would not deny tiiat there were, some cases of hardship, *nt he did deny the general ehan'e against the fathers and' mothers of Taranaki children that thev had regard for their children's welfare than the parents of other districts, a*d he had had occasion to go amongst these people.

Mr Wilford: Do you dispute the Chief Justice's word? Mr Jennings: I don't think the Chief end-all of everything that takes place m this colony. Mr Wilford: The poor souls don't get a chance. Mr Jennings: Although the linn member knows a good deal, especially' about divorce, he knows very liftlei about tho schoolchildren of Taranaß ) Mr Wilford: A leading man in Taranaki was chanrcd with carrving on at process nf white slavery. TTe issued a wTit against the proprietor of a newspaper for en article which it had published against him. The paper rcTfew aled its statements, and hacked theni up by evidence received after goin" round the district. The individual referred to then dropped the ease. Mr Jennings: That might be tilecase, but as a general thing there is no such thing as white slavery in naki, as spoken of by the hon. member and other people. Mr Okey pointed out that in Taranaki they had not children running the streets at all hours, as iu Wellington.' selling papers. The hon. memher should" I look nearer home.