68 GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELANB - AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY IN GENERAI, 



and workers' interests ; b) members representing employers ; c) members 

 representing workers. 



Women as well as men will be eligible as members of the Wages Board. 



The members representing employers and those representing workers 

 must be equal in number ; and the appointed members must not exceed 

 a quarter of the total number of members of the Wages Board. For the 

 rest, the numbers of appointed and of representative members and the me- 

 thods of electing both classes of the latter will be determined by regulations 

 of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. 



The chairman and secretary of the Wages Board will be appointed 

 by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. 



b) Minimum Rates of Wages. — It will be the duty of the Wages Board 

 to fix nainimmn rates of wages for time-work for all classes of workers, 

 and it may, if it think it necessary or expedient, also fix minimum rates 

 of wages for piece-work. These rates, whether for time-work or for piece 

 work, may be fixed so as to apply universallj^ to agricultural workers, or 

 may be fixed differently for different districts, different classes of workers, 

 or different kinds and conditions of employment. 



In fixing them the Wages Board is required by the Act to secure, as 

 far as is possible, that an able-bodied man receive such wages as, in its 

 opinion, promote his efficienc}'' and enable him to maintain himself and his 

 famil}' in accordance with a standard of comfort reasonably consonant with 

 the nature of his occupation. Where time-work is concerned the Act lays 

 down specificalh?^ that the minimum rates must secure for an able-bodied 

 man wages equivalent, in the opinion of the Wages Board, to at least 25s. 

 a week. The term " able-bodied man " does not apply to women, boys or 

 girls, but onty to any male workman who is not incapable, by reason of 

 age, mental or other infirmity or physical injury, of performing the work of a 

 normally efficient workman. 



In computing the wages the value of such customary allowances as are 

 not prohibited by law may be taken into account, in so far as the Wages 

 Board may authorize and on a basis of value to be fixed by the Wages Board. 

 Deductions from cash wages in respect of an allowance of intoxicating 

 drink are however illegal under the Truck Acts. 



Any minimum rates fixed under the Act will be without prejudice to 

 the payment., under any agreement entered into or custom existing before 

 the passing of the Act, of rates higher than the minimum rats. 



c) Procedure to Fix Minimum Rates. — Before fixing any minimimi rate 

 of wages the Wages Board must give notice of the rate which it proposes 

 to fix, and must consider any objections to it which may be lodged within 

 one month. When a rate has been fixed notice thereof must be given by the 

 Wages Board for the information of the employers and workers affected. 



The Wages Board may, if it think expedient, cancel or vary, after 

 due notice, any minimum rate fixed b}^ it. It must reconsider any rate if 

 directed to do so bj^ the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. 



d) Procedure to Enforce Minimum Rates. — When a minimum rate of 

 wages has been fixed an}^ agreement for the payment of wages at less than 



