THE SHOPHOURS BILL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1825, 26 April 1888, Page 4

THE SHOPHOURS BILL.

Mr Joyce, the member for Lyttelton, has cut out for himself a path which runs parallel to that followed for years tvith much perseverance and with considerable success by the late Mr Braidishaigh Bradshaw. The last mentioned gentleman was, as is well known, the father of th^ Factory 'Acts of the colony, better known as " The Employment of Females and thers Act" with its amendments, which secures women and children' working in factories of all kinds against being compelled to labor during unduly long hours, or in ill-ventilated and otherwise unsuitable and unhealthy premises. The present generation has failed to exhibit that appreciation of the lion gentleman's labours to which ho was fairly entitled, but in generations to come his memory will undoubtedly be honored and cherished as that of a public benefactor. Mr Joyce's efforts are alike humane in their object, and are directed towards securing a like protection from overwork and reasonable opportunities for healthy recreation and Belf-improvement for that other large section of the population who gain their living behind the counter as shop assistants. Mr Joyce has seen that the voluntary efforts of those of the masters who have joined in Early Closing Movements nearly always fail of securing the closing of shops at a uniform early hour, because of the greed of a small and selfish minority who will stand out, or who do even worse by first entering into agreements with the rest of their trade as to a fixed hour of closing, and then break-up the whole arrangement by a stealthy opening of side-doors, or by other furtive breaches of the compact entered into, and has perceived that the only way to secure the permanence of a uniform hour of early-closing is to regulate the matter by law. This has been done in Victoria with good effect, and Mr Joyce's Bill, which is modelled on the lines of the Act in force in the sister colony, after setting forth in the preamble that "the health ot many persons engaged in various retail trades is seriously injured by reason of the long hours of businoss, and that it is expedient to limit such hours, proceeds to enact as follows : — From and after the expiration of. three months after the passing of the Act (which is to be known as 'The Shophours Act') all retail shops in the colony, except those mentioned in the schedule, are to be closed from six p.m. till six a.m. on all week days except Saturday, and must be closed from Saturday at. ten p.m. until six a.m . on Monday, saving that on any day next preceding a public holiday they may be kept open till ten p.m. No employer may permit any employee to remain in any retail shop or premises later than one hour after the prescribed time of closing except for the purpose of stock-taking. The Act is not to apply to chemists or druggists selling or supplying medicines, drugs, or medicinal appliances after closing hour, nor to the occupier of any shop or premises supplyIng any article to any person lodging in such premises, or for provisioning any mail steamer, or supplying anything in case of sickness, nor is it to render unlawful the continuance in a shop after the hour appointed for closing, of any customers who were in the shop immediately before that hour, for a period of ("not more than ) one hour after closing. The businesses and premises exempted from the operations of the Act are the following, viz. — Houses licensed for the Bale of intoxicating liquors, refreshmenthouses wherein nothing is sold but eatables and drinkables consumed by the purchasers on the premises, and newspaper offices. The penalties for breach of the Act aro not less than £2 nor more than £5 in the case of a first, and not less than £5 nor more than £10 for any subsequent offence. This Bill, it may be remembered was introduced last session but never arrived at the stags of second reading, but a large number of petitions were presented in its fa for. Eecent telegrams inform us that at a meeting of shopkeepers in Auckland it has been determined to support the Bill heartily, and it was stated that like support will also be accorded from Otago* Mr Joyce therefore seems to haye a fair prospect of succeeding in p'aciag his Bill upon the statute book during the now rapidly approaching session, and we therefore take this opportunity of, for the second time, drawing attention to the legislation proposed in order that those who desire the Bill made law may take steps to strengthen Mr Joyce's hands, and that any necessary amendments may be pointed out^ ,