Let
me introduce myself, I am John Marshall. I own several mills
around the country. I employ many children to work for me, in
fact one-fifth of my workers are under 15 yrs old, and they
are all very well looked after.
Overseers are
not allowed to use corporal punishment on the workers and I have
built a school that can be used by children working in my mills. I
think many people would agree that the children under my care are
well looked after and healthy. They get given the chance to make
money for their families, who, if not for the income of their
offspring could starve. They get given a place at the mill for as
many years as they please, a job for life! A job, that, when they
come of age may very well provide for new families of their own.
They do not become deformed because of their work, and we try our
best to make sure they are in no danger.
These people trying to end child labour should take a
look around them and see the many families that would die of
starvation if I and others like me didn’t find work for their
children as well. By banning the right of a child to work, you are
depriving them and possibly their families the right for a decent
life without the worry of hunger or absolute poverty. How could you
wish that on anybody, let alone a child?
