604218-1940-Supplementary-Bills-read-a-first-time---Trade-Boards--Advertisements-Regulation-Amendment--New-Territories-Regulation-Amendment--Defences-Sketching-Prevention--Amendment — Page 6

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required, produce the said certificate to any person or persons 9 Edw. 7, 0. affected.

22, s. 16.

conduct

12. Any such officer may although not a barrister or Power to solicitor prosecute or conduct before a court of summary proceedings. jurisdiction any proceedings arising under this Ordinance.

9 Edw. 7, c. 22, s. 17 (2).

13. No prosecution under this Ordinance shall be com- Labour menced without the consent of the Labour Officer.

Officer's

consent to

prosecution

14. The Minimum Wage Ordinance, 1932, is repealed. Repeal of

Ordinance No. 28 of 1932.

Objects and Reasons.

1. The Minimum Wage Ordinance, 1932, made provi- sions for fixing minimum wages in occupations where the wages paid are unreasonably low. It has never been invoked.

2. It is a short and simple ordinance. It does not appear to envisage the fixing of any wage other than a minimum time rate, and it contains no reference to piece rates or hours of employment.

3. For the purpose of necessary inquiry and report it provides for the appointment of a Board of Commissioners consisting of five persons of whom one shall be a judge or magistrate who shall be Chairman of the Board.

4. No machinery is provided for enforcing the payment of any minimum wage fixed under the Ordinance.

5. The present Bill follows closely certain provisions of the Trade Boards Acts 1909 and 1918. Power to fix minimum wages remains with the Governor in Council, but a Trade Board on which employers and employees shall be equally represented together with members of the public is substituted for a Board of Commissioners as the machinery for inquiry and report in each case. In pursuance of the policy of encouraging the organization of responsible trade unions it is considered desirable and feasible that representa- tives of workers should function as members of these Trade Boards and learn in practice the advantages of conciliation and arbitration.

6. Provision is made for the fixing of time rates, piece rates, and overtime rates. Payment by piece rates is common in local industries.

7. Following the Home Acts, adequate provision is made for the enforcement of approved minimum rates, but the Labour Officer's consent to prosecution is required.

8. This Bill has been prepared by the Labour Officer, Mr. H. R. Butters.

June, 1939.

C. G. ALABASTER,

Attorney General.