THE NATIONAL FARMERS' UNION 



conscientious in his decisions, although we may at 

 times think him impervious to the employers' logic. 

 I have a vivid recollection of a very amusing 

 scene which occurred at a sub-Committee meeting, 

 one held to grant permits for employment at less than 

 the minimum wage. An employer turned up with 

 his employee, the latter, by the by, being somewhat 

 low in intellect — in fact this inability was the nature 

 of the claim. When we had them quietly seated, 

 the Chairman addressed the employer somewhat as 



follows : " Now, Mr. , can you give us your 



reasons for making this application ? " Back came 

 the reply, " Well, Mr. Chairman, this here chap 

 ain't much good ; he's one of them as is born in the 

 slow gear, and that you'll find in a minute. You 

 have a word with'en." The Chairman turning to 

 the boy said, " Now, my boy, speak up and tell 

 me how old you are." The boy with a grin on his 

 face replied, " Twenty-one, sir, last apple-picking 

 time." The employer chipped in, " There you are, 

 sir, I telled 'ee he was one of they as be born in the 

 slow gear." After this there appeared no way of 

 escape from an exemption to work for a lower wage. 



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