LABOUR CONTRACTS

Southland Times, Issue 20614, 12 October 1928, Page 5

LABOUR CONTRACTS

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO. CURIOUS APPRENTICESHIP INDENTURES. Recently there appeared a paragraph ’ from a Blenheim newspaper which gave details of an apprenticeship indenture, 105 years old. Two even more interesting documents were shown to a Times reporter by Mr James Stewart, of Bowmont street yesterday. The first, which was written in faded ink on a large sheet of stout ribbed paper in perfect condition save at the folds, was an apprenticeship indenture 114 years old, apprenticing Mr Stewart’s father. The wording of the document contained the following phrases:— “It is contracted and agreed upon between Francis Ballingal, wright and cabinet maker, in Perth, as master, on the one hand and James Stewart, as apprentice . . . that during four years the said Francis Ballingal binds and obliges himself to teach, learn and instruct the said apprentice in the whole parts and points of his said business and trade, and also to pay the said apprentice the sum of four shillings sterling weekly during the second, third fourth years of the apprenticeship. On the other part, James Stewart binds himself faithfully and honestly to serve and obey the said master at his trade and not to absent himself therefrom by night or day without leave of his said master, and if he does on the contrary he obliges himself either to pay two shillings sterling or serve two days for each absent day after the expiry of this indenture. And that he shall abstain from all idle and profane company, bad and vicious practices and carry and behave himself discreetly towards his said master. Likewise the master binds himself to -furnish the said apprentice in body clothes and washing sufficiently . . . . Signed the nineteenth day of October, 1814. Francis Ballingal, James Stewart,” and witnesses. On 'the reverse, was a note by Ballingal stating that James Stewart “served the period of apprenticeship faithfully and well, and was released from all obligations contained in the indenture. The second indenture was written on parchment in wonderful condition and was 61 years old. The top of the sheet was cut in a jagged manner to justify the word “Indenture.” It committed the present Mr Stewart to a six years’ apprenticeship in the brass-workers’ trade and the wording of it is particularly quaint with its inverted clauses. The great power the master had is clearly shown. “During the term of six years, the said apprentice his master faithfully shall serve, his secrets keep, his lawful commands everywhere gladly do, he shall do no damage to his said master nor . see to be done of others. ... He shall not commit fornication nor contract matrimony within the said term, shall not play at cards or dice tables, he shall neither buy nor sell, he shall not haunt taverns, or playhouses nor absent himself from his master’s service day or night unlawfully. . . . The said master agrees to pay the sum of one shilling per week the second year, one shilling and sixpence the third year, .... four shillings per week the sixth year. July 15, 1867.”