CO129-551-2 Mui Tsai system 30-11-1934 - 22-11-1935 — Page 81

6.

81

conveniently be summarised as four similar cases, each involv- ing one girl and two defendants.

A:- For

(b) The girl in each case was a registered muit sai; it was found by the Inspectors that she was not residing with

The her employer, but living and working at another address. registered employer was summoned on two counts: transferring a muitsai to another employer, contrary to section 9, sub-section 1, and B:- For failing to report the change of address of the muitsai. The person with whom the muitsai was staying was summoned for C:- Taking a muitsai

into his employment.

(c) The first case to be heard was successful, the

defendants pleading guilty and admitting that the transfer was intended to be permanent. First defendant was fined $10.00 on each of the charges A and B, and second defendant

was fined $25.00 in respect of charge V.

(d) The second and third cases of this kind came up

for hearing together, and the defendants were discharged on all counts. The facts of the case were admitted, but the

magistrate held that, inasmuch as there was no evidence to show that a permanent transfer was intended, he could not

see his way to convict on either charge A or charge U. With regard to charge B, he held that the wording of the Regulation

was not such as to compel an employer to report a temporary

change of address.

(e) The advice of the Law Officers of the Crown was

sought, and the magistrate was upheld on both points. The

fourth case of this kind, in which the circumstances were

similar to those of the last two, was then withdrawn by

permission of the magistrate.

(f) In view of these cases, it has been considered

desirable to alter Regulation 5 (1)d, and a new regulation

in