A Trade Board must fix a minimum rate or rates of wages for time-work. Where no other rate has been fixed, piece-workers must be paid at rates sufficient to yield to an ordinary worker at least as much money as the minimum time-rate. It also has power to fix general minimum piece-rates, a guaranteed time-rate for piece-workers, a piece-work basis time-rate on which piece-work prices must be based, overtime rates, and for this purpose the Board has power to declare what is the normal number of working hours per week in the trade. A Board can, if it thinks fit, fix minimum rates of wages for all classes of workers throughout its trade, or, if it chooses, fix only a general minimum time-rate, and leave other rates to be settled between the employers and workpeople themselves. When a rate has been fixed, every employer in the trade must exhibit the Trade Board’s notice, giving full particulars of the rate, in his factory, or in the place where work is given out. Any employer who pays wages at less than the minimum rate is liable to a fine of £20 for each offence and to a further fine of £5 for each day after his conviction on which he fails to pay the legal rate. Any worker who thinks he is not receiving the rate due to him may complain to the Minister of Labour or to the Trade Board. The number of Trade Boards at present in existence is 44. Of these 5 are for England and Wales, 5 for Scotland, and 34 for Great Britain. By May 10, 1922, 30 Boards had been set up in Ireland. These Boards covered in all approximately 3 million workpeople. The Trade Boards are independent bodies, though they are financed and staffed by the Ministry of Labour and though their rates are subject, as described above, to confirmation by the Minister. The Minister of Labour has announced his intention to introduce legislation dealing with the recommendations of a Committee appointed in September 1921, under the chairmanship of Lord Cave, to inquire into the working and effect of the Trade Boards Acts (_Parliamentary Paper_, 1922, Cmd. 1645). A statement of the Government’s new policy appears at p. 286 of the _Labour Gazette_ for July 1922. Employment Exchanges