Page:Destitute Persons Act 1846.pdf/3

1846.

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to make application for the receiving of all payments becoming due under any such order as aforesaid in the same manner as the mother of such child might have done.

Children may be bound apprentices in certain cases.

It shall be lawful for any two Justices with the consent of either of the parents, if living and within the limits of the Colony, but if otherwise then without such consent, to bind any child in respect of whose support any such order as aforesaid shall have been made and be then in force, and who shall have attained the age of fourteen years, as an apprentice, until such child shall attain the age of eighteen years, to any trade business or employment suitable to such child; and every such binding shall be as effectual in law as if the child had been of full age and had bound himself.

Age to be stated in articles of apprenticeship.

Previously to executing any articles of apprenticeship such Justices shall inform themselves as fully as may be of the age of the child so to be bound as aforesaid, and shall cause the age of the child so ascertained to be inserted in the articles of apprenticeship, and the age so to be inserted shall thereupon for the purposes of this provision be taken to be the child's true age without further proof: Provided also that such Justices shall take care that in every such articles reasonable provision be made for the maintenance clothing and wages of the apprentice, and for the proper and humane treatment of such apprentice.

Misbehaviour of apprentice and ill-usage of master.

Upon the complaint of any master or mistress of the misbehaviour of any such apprentice, or upon the complaint of any such apprentice of ill-usage by the master or mistress, it shall be lawful for any Justice of the Peace to hear and determine the same in a summary way, and the party offending shall on conviction forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding five pounds.

Articles to be cancelled in certain cases.

If it shall appear to such Justice on any such complaint that there is or has been habitual ill-usage by the master or mistress, or incorrigible misconduct in the apprentice, it shall be lawful for such Justice to make an order cancelling the articles of apprenticeship.

Assignment of articles on the death of the master.

In case of the death of any such master or mistress it shall be lawful for any two Justices of the Peace to assign any such articles of apprenticeship for the residue of the term then unexpired therein, or to cancel the same as to them shall seem meet.

And during lifetime.

It shall also be lawful for any such Justices, on the application of any such master or mistress, to assign any such articles of apprenticeship to any other person if it shall appear to the said Justices to be for the benefit of the apprentice so to do: Provided that in every assignment the assignee shall be as much bound to perform the several covenants contained in any such deed as if he had been named therein.

Recovery of payments in arrear.

In case the sum directed to be paid by any order made in pursuance of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be in arrear or unpaid for the space of one calendar month or upwards, it shall be lawful for any Justice of the Peace, on the application of the person entitled to receive the same, by warrant to cause any person making such default to be brought before any two Justices, and if such person shall fail to make payment of such arrears, the amount then due shall be determined by the said Justices and shall be recovered in a summary way: Provided always that if the sum to be paid in pursuance of any such order shall have been allowed by the person entitled to receive the same to be in arrear for more than thirteen weeks without making such application as aforesaid, the person liable to pay the same shall not be compelled to pay more than the amount due for thirteen weeks in discharge of the whole debt, and no warrant

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