436 INTERN A TIONAL LA WS FOR THE 



six months at a loss, as they would be of very little use, 

 and just as they were getting useful, the boys could, if 

 they wished, withdraw on some plea, and get a berth else- 

 where at weekly wages, having got an insight into the 

 business at the expense of somebody else. The period of 

 probation named is too long, and would tend to check the 

 apprenticeship system very much. 



Clause 10 gives power to the superintendent to cancel 

 the indenture at any time during the probationary period. 

 This power should not be given to the superintendent, and 

 is objectionable. 



Clause 1 1 bears on the above point, and is objectionable 

 so far as the superintendent is concerned, for it does not 

 appear right that the jurisdiction of the magistrates or any 

 other court, in respect to disputes between master and 

 apprentice, should be ousted by reference to a superin- 

 tendent of shipping, who, although possibly a very worthy 

 person, is not likely to be able to decide these matters of 

 law as the magistrates are, who are assisted by their clerk. 



Clauses 12 and 13 are binding clauses, and having regard 

 to the class of persons who enter as apprentices or boys in 

 the fishing industry, the bond or obligation here provided 

 is an absurdity, and so is the whole indenture, when it is 

 set forth to be used where boys who are not apprentices 

 are concerned. It shows that the Board of Trade are 

 competent to deal with this question in those parts where 

 the shore life of the apprentices is concerned ; but the 

 other portions, which relate to the really practical parts, 

 again show that the official mind is not so fully in- 

 formed as it ought to be when legislating for the fishing 

 trade. 



Fishing Another document, sanctioned by the Board of Trade in 



Agreement. j^ arc j 1 jgg^ must fc e di scusse d, as it is an important point 



