, 1885-10-10
P Il OF E E D N G S
OF THE
AWMoAA gOWWO01
FOR ST. CROIx.

All the MeHlDPTS were pl0SCuC iOu VA
ception Of Members Richter, Petersen and
Birch, who had notified their inability to
attend. Member Wassard is absent from
the island.
The Governor was present.
The minutes Of the last meeting were
read and adopted.
The Council then proceeded to the Order
Of the Day viz:
l.. Introduction of and lst Discussion
on Draft of Ordinance concerning
Country labourers in ST. CrOix.
The Draft reads thus =
D e A r Z
of Ordinance concerning Country tG6Onrer8
in st. Croir.
/.
ANY person who has completed his 18th
Year cln into a valid contract to work
on a property in the country. With
regard to younger persons the entering
into such contracts and the terminating of
them is done on their behalf by their
parents or other superiOrs, who, however,
may authorize the young persons concern
ed to do these things themselves. A
contract entered into for a minor Is not
binding on him longer than that he after
having completed his 18th year can termi-
nate the same by a months notice.
81.
LabOur cont acts may be entered into
either by word of mouth or in writing
and in the latter case are to be written
upon unstamped paper. They can either
DO entered into for a definite time, so how
ever that any such contract after running
for one year may be terminated by one
months notice, or they can be entered into
ON the understanding that they may be ter
minated at any time by giving not more
than 3 months notice. Excepted only is a
contract between an employer and a IN
bourer who has been brought here from
other foreign places than the West ndian
islands, in regard to which also in several
other respects special rules are applicable,
of which more particularly further on, i'll
1887.
If IA lab0urer has taken up his residence
on a country property i'll a house or room
delivered over to him there and has worked
for the property, his relation to the proper
IL as labourer is to be considered as so far
established that it can only be terminated
by a months notice, unless it can be shown
that a different agreement has been en-
tered into. This provision applies only
when no rent is charged for the house or
room used by the labOurer.
4.
The AmOunt of the wages and other
COMPENSATION which the labOurer is to
have depends entirely on agreement. If
no agreement in this regard has been made
between the parties, the labOurer is to
receive the same compensation and to have
his wages paid at the same time as is usual
for a labourer engaged to do the like kind
Of work.
On the day agreed upon the labOurer is
bound to be on the property and COM
mence his work aud the employer is bound
to receive him.
IS.
Should any employer refuse without law
full cause to receive a labOurer at the time
agreed upon the latter may retain the
advance of wages which may have been
given him, and may also demand a reason
able compensation, which however is not
10 exceed a months wages, besides which
the employer is liable to a fine of from
2 to 20 West Indian dollars. BY ga
months wages" is to be understood in this
place and wherever the expression occurs
elsewhere in this ordinance, the wages
for % working days.
' Ht ST.
An employer may refuse to receive a
labourer on the following grounds, unless
they have already been known to him at
tire time of making the engagement:
/, when the labourer has been condemn.
ell 10 imprisonment with hard labour,