HASTY LEGISLATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1179, 14 July 1911, Page 2

HASTY LEGISLATION.

i THE BLUNDERS OP PARLIAMENT. That necessary consideration is not given to measures introduced in Parliament is evidenced by tho inconsistency found in tlio Whops and Offices Act in connection with the hours provided for work in restaurants (says tlio annual report of the Wellington Employers' Association). The report proceeds: The Act. fixes a. weekly limit for male workers of 02 hours. Kesta'urant keepers who do not carry on a Sunday trade arc unable to take' full advantage of even this restricted weekly limit owing to the Act providing for a weekly half-holiday for each assistant on a working day, and to a further restriction of 10 hours for each day's work, the result Ijoiiifi that in practice- this class of employer can only work assistants 55 hours a week. AH hough this anomaly was pointed out to (ho Minister for La. hour and a number of members of both Houses, tho Act was rushed through its various latter stages, despite spirited protests ma.de at the time. Although (ho object of tho amendments whs evidently intended to benefit workers, tho efl'ect of the too close restriction mentioned has resulted in a number of employers opening, their premises on Sundays, and thus requiring employees to- work GJ days iu a week instead of SJ.