31. Circulaire ministérielle du 13 juin 1915, concernant les sursis et permissions aux maréchaux-ferrants, forgerons et mécaniciens-réparateurs de machines agricoles. (Journ. off. du 17 juillet 1915; Dalloz V., 166.)

Ministerial circular concerning exemptions and leave for farriers, blacksmiths and repairing engineers for agricultural machines. Dated 13th June, 1915.

32. Circulaire ministérielle du 20 juillet 1915, au sujet des sursis, des permissions et des équipes pour les travaux de battage (suite à la circulaire du 13 juillet). (Journ. off. du 22 juillet 1915; Dalloz V., 202.) Ministerial Circular on the matter of exemptions, leave and gangs for threshing operations (supplementary to the Circular of 13th July). Dated 20th July, 1915.

[EXTRACTS.]

II.-Shifts of Military Persons and Prisoners.

The circulars of the Minister of War, dated 7th, 14th, 26th and 30th June, respecting the organisation of agricultural gangs, consisting of military persons, shall apply to threshing operations.

On the other hand, the Minister of War, on being consulted, has informed me that there appears to be nothing against gangs of 20 prisoners each, arranged for agricultural work, being employed not only in bringing in, but also in threshing the harvest, it being understood that, in order to avoid accidents, the control of the machines must always remain entrusted to trained persons.

In order to form these gangs of military persons or prisoners, you should make arrangements, in advance, with the General Officers Commanding the districts, in accordance with the rule applying up to the present.

33. Loi du 17 août 1915, assurant la juste répartition et une meilleure utilisation des hommes mobilisés ou mobilisables. (Journ. off. du 19 aout 1915; Dalloz V., supplément.) (Loi Dalbiez.)

Act to ensure the fair distribution and the better utilisation of men mobilised or liable to be mobilised. Dated 17th August, 1915. [EXTRACT.]

6. The Minister of War is authorised to allocate to undertakings, factories and works, engaged in work for the national defence, men belonging to one of the classes that are mobilised or are liable to be mobilised, being heads of undertakings, engineers, manufacturers, foremen or workers, and who prove that they have carried on their trade for at least one year either in the said undertakings, factories and works, or in similar undertakings, factories and works. In the case of mining works the time limit shall be reduced to six months.

Men satisfying the above conditions shall present to the military authority a declaration signed by themselves, stating the time during which they have carried on their trade and the undertakings, factories and works in which they did so.

Workmen coming under the conditions laid down in the first paragraph of this Section shall be chosen for preference from amongst the men in the auxiliary service, and, failing them, from amongst the territorial reservists and territorials, beginning with the fathers of the largest families and with the oldest classes.

As a transitory measure, men who, without satisfying the conditions laid down in the first paragraph are, at present, detailed to work in undertakings, factories and works engaged in work for the national defence, may be retained there, if, within a period not exceeding two months, a commission, set up in each district and consisting of an equal number of employers and workers, presided over by a representative of the Minister of War or the Minister of Marine, has recommended that they should be so retained.

In the case of mining works, the commission set up in the district of each mine shall be presided over by the chief mining engineer. It shall consist half of employers and half of working miners. The miners' delegate or his substitute shall serve ex officio.

In the case of the invaded districts, the recommendation shall be issued by the military mining commission, to which there shall be added one workman and one employer.

The men contemplated in the preceding paragraphs shall remain at the disposal of the Minister of War.

They shall be subject to the conditions and obligations prescribed in paragraphs 3 and 6 of §42 of the Act of 21st March, 1905. The Decree of roth August, 1899, respecting conditions of work under contracts entered into on behalf of the State shall apply with force of law as regards their wages.

V.

Great Britain and Ireland

1. Royal Warrant as to employment of soldiers in civil occupations. Irth May, 1915. (Manual Suppl.* No. 4, p. 80.)

[During their temporary employment in munitions work soldiers retain all their rights and those of their dependants. But they receive no Army pay except when their civil earnings are lower.]

2. An Act to facilitate the early provision of dwellings, etc., for, and for the convenience of, persons employed by or on behalf of the Admiralty at Rosyth Dockyard. 19th May, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 13.)

3. Royal Warrant as to Disability Pensions for Soldiers.

(Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 8r.)

21st May, 1915.

[Pensions may be granted for disabled European soldiers as follows:For total incapacity: Privates 25s., Officers 275.-40s. per week; for partial incapacity a pension which will, with his wages, amount to the above rate, a further allowance of 2s. 6d. a week for each child under 16 years. These allowances may be continued beyond the age of 16 in the case of apprentices receiving not more than nominal wages, or of children being educated at secondary schools, technical schools or universities. Granted as from Ist March, 1915.]

4. Royal Warrant as to pensions for Widows and Children of Soldiers. 21st May, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 100.)

* Manual of Emergency Legislation (edited by ALEXANDER PULLING); Supplement No. 4 to 31st, August, 1915. London, September, 1915 (Wyman; price 2s. 6d.). For Orders under the National Insurance Act See Manual Suppl. No. 4, pp. 353-357, 402.

Whereas we deem it expedient to make further provision for the pensions of widows and children of British warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men whose death results from the present war.

Our Will and Pledge is that :

I. The widows and children of such warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men may be granted pensions at the following rates, in lieu of the special rates laid down in Article 788 of Our Warrant of the 1st December, 1914, for the pay, appointment, promotion and non-effective pay of our Army and of the rates laid down in Article 1248:

Pensions to children (including those born before wedlock) may be granted as follows:-5s. a week for the first child, 3s. 6d. a week for the second child, and 2s. a week for each child beyond two.

2. In the event of the children being motherless, or if the mother has forfeited her pension through misconduct and the children are removed from her control, a pension of 5s. a week may be granted to each child.

3. The widow of a non-commissioned officer or man may be granted on re-marriage a gratuity equal to two years' pension, payable either in one sum or in instalments at the discretion of Our Army Council.

4. The payments of pensions to children may in all cases be continued. to the age of 16, and may be continued above that age on the recommendation of the Local Education Authority in the cases of apprentices receiving not more than nominal wages or of children being educated at secondary schools, technical schools or universities.

5. The rates of pension provided in this Our Warrant shall come into force as from the 1st March, 1915.

6. Existing regulations relative to pensions for the widows and children of warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men shall, so far as they are not affected by this Our Warrant, remain in force.

5. Order in Council approving a Scheme under the Injuries in War (Compensation) Act, 1914, and the Injuries in War Compensation Act, 1914 (Session 2), and applying, as from 3rd August, 1914, to all officers and men of Fleet Auxiliaries (other than ranks and ratings in receipt of Naval pay), and to officers and men of the War Department Examination Service and other persons employed afloat (whether directly or indirectly) by or under the Admiralty or Army Council, and to the Dependants of such Persons. 27th May, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 258.)

6. Order in Council further amending the Defence of the Realm (Consolidation) Regulations, 1914. 2nd June, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 122.)

[EXTRACT.]

The following Regulation shall be inserted:

39A. If a seaman lawfully engaged in accordance with the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1914, to serve on board any British ship belonging to or chartered or requisitioned by the Admiralty (a) neglects or refuses without reasonable cause to join his ship, or to proceed to sea in his ship, or deserts or is absent without leave from his ship, or from his duty at any time; or (b) joins his ship in a state of drunkenness, he shall be guilty of an offence and may with assistance be conveyed on board.

7. An Act for establishing, in connection with the present War, a Ministry of Munitions of War, and for purposes incidental thereto (Chapter 51). 9th June, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 14.)

8. Order in Council further amending the Defence of the Realm (Consolidation) Regulations, 1914. 10th June, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 14.)

[EXTRACT.]

I. After Regulation 6 the following Regulation shall be inserted:

6A. The power of the Secretary of State under §150 of the Factory and Workshop Aci, 1901, by order, to the extent and during the period named by him, to exempt from that Act, in case of any public emergency, any factory or workshop belonging to the Crown, or any factory or workshop in respect of work which is being done on behalf of the Crown, shall extend to any factory or workshop in which the Secretary of State is satisfied that, by reason of the loss of men through enlistment or transference to Government service, or of other circumstances arising out of the present war, exemption is necessary to secure the carrying on of work which is required in the national interest.

9. An Act to amend the Army Act (Chap. 58). 2nd July, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 32.)

[Extends §141 of the Army Act (which prohibits the assignment of pay and other allowances) to the allowances to wives and dependants of officers and soldiers-Sub-section (9) of §156 (which restricts the pledging of identity certificates by persons entitled to military pensions, etc.) extended to separation or other allowances.]

10. Order in Council further amending the Defence of the Realm (Consolidation) Regulations, 1914. 6th July, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 131.)

[EXTRACT.]

I. For paragraph (b) of Regulation 8A the following paragraph shall be substituted: The Admiralty or the Army Council are empowered :

(b) to regulate or restrict the carrying on of any work in any factory, workshop or other premises, or the engagement or employment of any workman or all or any classes of workmen therein, or to remove the

plant therefrom with a view to maintaining or increasing the production of munitions in other factories, workshops or premises, or to regulate or control the supply of metals and material that may be required for any articles for use in war.

IOA.

2. After Regulation 10, the following Regulation shall be inserted :— Where the competent naval or military authority has control of any dock premises, he may prohibit any person from bringing into or having in his possession within those premises, any intoxicating liquor.

11. The Munitions (Ordering of Work) Regulations (Scotland), 1915, dated 8th July, 1915, made by the Minister of Muniitions under §4 (5) of the Munitions of War Act, 1915, with respect to the General Ordering of the Work in a Controlled Establishment in Scotland. 8th July, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 322.)

[See the Regulations of 14th July, 1915, No. 15; date of coming into force, 12th July, 1915.]

12. The Munitions Tribunals (Provisional) Rules, 1915, dated 12th July, 1915, for Constituting and Regulating Munitions Tribunals in England and Wales, made in pursuance of §15 of the Munition of War Act, 1915, by a Secretary of State as far as relates to offences, and by the Minister of Munitions as far as relates to other matters. 12th July, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 329.)

13. Proclamation applying Part I. of the Munitions of War Act, 1915, to a difference in the Coal Mining Industry of South Wales. 13th July, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 325.)

14. Order made by the Minister of Munitions applying 87 of the Munitions of War Act, 1915, to a certain class of establishments. 14th July, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 234.)

In pursuance of the power conferred upon me by §7, Sub-section I, of the Munitions of War Act, 1915, I hereby make the following Order :

The provisions of 87 of the Munitions of War Act, 1915 (which relate to the prohibition of the employment of persons who have left work in munitions factories) shall apply to the following class of establishments :

Any establishment being a factory or workshop the business carried on in which consists wholly or mainly in engineering shipbuilding or the production of arms, ammunition or explosives or of substances required for the production thereof.

15. The Munitions (Ordering of Work) (Provisional) Regulations, 1915, dated 14th July, 1915, made by the Minister of Munitions under §4 (5) of the Munitions of War Act, 1915, with respect to the General Ordering of the Work in a Controlled Establishment in England or Ireland. 14th July, 1915. (Manual Suppl. No. 4, p. 321.)

The Minister of Munitions, in pursuance of §2 of the Rules Publication Act, 1893, hereby certifies that, on account of urgency, it is desirable that the following Regulations should come into immediate operation, and he therefore