TOBACCONISTS AND THEIR GRIEVANCES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2278, 12 October 1914, Page 9

TOBACCONISTS AND THEIR GRIEVANCES

DEPUTATION TO HON. W. F. MASSEY. On Saturday morning a deputation of hairdressers waited on the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W._ F. Massey), in his capacity as Minister of Labour, and urged more stringent enforcement by the Department of Labour of the observance of the hours stipulated for the sale of tobacco. Mr. J. B. Speed,' addressing Mr. Massey, said that the Department' s system of inspection was not strict enough. He suggested that all sellers of tobacco should be licensed (and required to pay a. small fee), so that the authorities would know definitely the names of all people- vending this class of goods. Ho asked that Sunday trading should bo prevented, and expressed, the opinion that even'shopkeepers who sold tobacco merely as a side-line should bo compelled to close their business premises at the hpurs at which, the, tobacconists wore bound to closo. Mr. Massoy replied that.it seemed to him that tho deputation bad a genuine grievance. He added that he would do :what ho could to pet the matter before, the Labour Bills Committee this session, and, if the House would agree to legislation without a protracted discussion, he thought that a remedy could be effected.- He promised to attend to tho matter.