66 AN INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH RURAL HISTORY 



this average market price and the minimum price stated 

 in the Act was to be paid to the farmer each year out of 

 taxes. As a matter of fact the average prices for corn 

 maintained a higher level than the minima stated in the 

 Act : hence it has not been necessary for farmers to apply 

 for the bounty. 



Another feature of the Act is that Agricultural Rents 

 must " not exceed such rent as could have been obtained " 

 if the condition outlined above had not been in force. But 

 as farmers have not been compelled to apply for the bounty, 

 landowners have not been restricted in the raising of agri- 

 cultural rents. 



The Act also empowers the Board of Agriculture to 

 enforce proper cultivation. In case of a tenant's refusal 

 to comply with the directions 4 of the Board, the tenant 

 may be displaced and representatives of the Board " may 

 enter on and take possession of the land." 



Agricultural Wages Board. 



But there is one section of the Corn Production Act 

 which may be regarded as the farm-workers' charter. 

 Part II, Section 5 of the Act provides for the establishment 

 of an Agricultural Wages Board. The Act provides for 

 a minimum wage of 25s. a week for all farm- workers. Owing, 

 however, to the increased cost of living, this minimum 

 did not constitute a living wage. Unfortunately, the 

 majority of the farmers regarded the minimum as the 

 maximum. Accordingly, they paid the same rate of wages 

 to all men, in spite of the fact that their own profits had 

 increased enormously. 



Fortunately the Act did not fix maximum rates of wages. 

 Special powers were conferred upon the Wages Board to 

 vary the rates of wages in accordance with the nature of 

 the work, the season, the day or week or month or other 

 period, the number of working hours, and any other factor 

 affecting the worker. It was even within the jurisdiction 

 of the Wages Board to fix a rate below the minimum wage 

 in the case of a worker suffering from some mental or bodily 

 affliction. 



Constitution of the Wages Board, 



The Agricultural Wages Board consists of thirty-nine 

 persons. Of these, thirty-two are representatives, the 

 farmers and farm-workers each being entitled to send 



