“CHILD SLAVERY.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2747, 28 February 1910, Page 2

“CHILD SLAVERY.”

ON AUCKLAND DAIRY FARMS. In the past, allegations, supported' by evidence, have been made that the daily life of many children, particularly in the more remote dairying districts, has more closely resembled slavery than anything else. Of course, these allegations have been indignantly denied. Mr. R. D. Stewart, one of the masters of schools for the Auckland district, is convinced that the allegations had a solid foundation dn fact. “Has any improvement been made?” Mr. Stewart was asked last week, by a representative of the “Post.”

“The improvement- that lias been made in the Auckland district amounts to this,” he replied, “that a great many of the bigger dairy farmers have installed milking machines. The idea of doing the milking by machinery in the Auckland District is rapidly extending, and that is the greatest hope I. have so far as the children ture concerned. There are, <4 course, many cases still where the child does not receive the consideration to which it is entitled. The trouble is not so much a matter of ■overwork as a case of want of sleep. The need of sleep has a very detrimental effect on the physical developments. I think that parents, at all events in the Auckland province, are beginning to realise this. I believe that they are making some attempt to conserve the true interests of their children. At any rate,” he continued, “the complaints of teachers to myself are net so numerous as they were.” Air. Stewart, however, freely admitted that there wore cases where teachers had been afraid to openly speak their minds to him in certain districts, because it would be to their personal disadvantage scholastically to do so. So far as the poor teacher is concerned, that phrase can be easily interpreted. Asked if it was likely that a teacher’s position Avon Id bo prejudiced if he spoke his mind, Mr. Stewart said he had known cases where a teacher would not speak his mind for fear of the consequences. “Finally,” said Mr. Stewart, “generally speaking, I give it as a well considered opinion that conditions as far as children are concerned have improved in. the Auckland district. My Inspection has covered tho whole of the Auckland dairying country right down to the Taranaki boundary, and I can say there has been improvement.” “You think there was need for improvement?” be was asked. “Don’t I know it!” he replied. “Unquestionably, the agitation »\hr-*h has been carried on has been productive of great good. Do I think more could not be done to reduce the evil ?” he reasoned. “The real danger is in the newlysettled districts, where parents taking up land have not sufficient capital. The great safeguard is the pressure of public opinion. The effective carrying out of the School Attendance Act would also result in a great deal of good. In many cases at present the children, if they are not actually absent from school, get there very late.”