the effect that such child has reached the fourth standard[1] of education as prescribed. by the Minutes of the Education Department for the time being in force with respect to the Parliamentary Grant, or such other standard as may from time to time be fixed for the purpose of this Act by Minute of the Education Department; nor shall the said provisions apply in the case of any child for the time being detained in a certified reformatory school or in a certified industrial school within the meaning of the Reformatory Schools Acts, 1866 and 1872[2], and the Industrial Schools Acts, 1866 and 1872[3] respectively.
Persons employing Children in Contravention of Act deemed guilty of Offence against Act.
12. If any employer or his agent employs any child in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act he shall be guilty of an offence against this Act, unless it appears to the court having cognizance of the case that the child was so employed on the representation of his parent and under the belief in good faith that he was a duly certificated child,[4] or above the age of twelve years, in which case the employer or agent shall not be, but the parent shall be, guilty of an offence against this Act.
- ↑ This enactment is in a certain sense a reward for proficiency; that is to say, a child who by his (or her) industry has obtained a specially good place at school will be favoured accordingly in his (or her) opportunities of beginning at an early age to earn a livelihood by manual labour.
- ↑ † 29 & 30 Vict. c. 117, and 35 & 36 Vict. c. 21.
- ↑ ‡ 29 & 30 Vict. c. 118, and 35 & 36 Vict. c. 21. The two Acts of 1866, relating to Reformatory and Industrial Schools respectively, were amended in 1872 by one joint Act, though from the text it might be inferred that there were four Acts in all.
- ↑ See § 4, ante.
