EMPLOYMENT OF BOYS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 December 1941, Page 3

EMPLOYMENT OF BOYS

ON DOMINION DAIRY FARMS DURING WAR PERIOD. LABOUR LAW MODIFIED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Representations have been made on behalf of dairy farmers that they might be permitted to employ boys under 15 years old during the war period in view z of the shortage of farm labour. Section 13 of the Agricultural Workers Act, 1936, prohibits the employment of any child under 15 on a dairy farm, and the question as to whether some modification of this provision should be made during the present emergency has been under consideration by the Industrial Emergency Council. The council has made a recommendation to the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, and this will be embodied in a Modification Order 'which is being gazetted immediately. The effect of the order will be to al-, low boys under the age of 15 years to be employed as agricultural workers, on dairy farms subject to a permit being obtained from the placement officer who, before issuing any permit,’ must consult the New Zealand Workers’ Industrial Union of Workers and the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, and also satisfy himself as to the physique of the boy and as to the suitability of the employer and of the general conditions under which the boy is to be employed. The placement officer is to forward a copy of any permit issued by him to the Department of Labour which will advise the Child Welfare Officer of the placing of the boy in employment in order that appropriate supervision may be maintained in respect of the boy and his employment. ; Any permit issued by a placement officer may be withdrawn or revoked by him at any time.