TO SHOPKEEPERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2609, 3 November 1915, Page 2

TO SHOPKEEPERS

: AN EXPLANATORY NOTE. The- Shops and Offices Amending Act, 1915, which was passed at tlie end of the recent session, makes provision affecting boot and shoe dealers and chemists. The amendment provides that in any case where t'lie shops of boot and shoe dealers —that is to say, those principally engaged in the sale of boots and siloes —are closed at a certain hour by "requisition" of a majority of the shopkeepers in that trade, it shall not be lawful for any other shopkeepers, such as morcers or .storekeepers, to sell boots and shoes as a side line of their business while their shops are open after the hours fixed. _bj the boot and shoe dealers' "requisition." Boot and shoe dealers' requisitions are in force .in Wellington, Auckland, ChristckurcE, "Gisborno, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, and Nelson. The new clause is similar in its effect to a clause of the principal Act which prohibits the sale of 'tobacconists' goods by storekeepers and others while the shops of tobacconists are closed by "requisition" of the majority of the tobacconists. Such a "requisition" has been in force, in Wellington for some years. The Department of Labour will, in a few days, receive copies of the new Act, and will issue notices to the shopkeepers concerned, intimating that the provisions mentioned must be complied with.' The amendment relating to chemists' shops introduces a new principle, and is inserted in order, on the one hand, to enable the proprietors of chemists' shops in any district to adopt an early closing ' 'requisition" (by majority vote), and at the same time to enable the general public to obtain urgent medicines at any hour. This may be brought about by the establishment of a "nijjhfc pharmacy." The amendment provides that in any chemists' "requisition" ail exemption from closing at the hours specified may be made in favour of a night pharmacy. The Minister shall not', however, order the closing of th 9 chemists' shops pursuant to such requisition unless he is satisfied that the whole of the owners of the shops concerned have been afforded an equal right of. participating in the profits of the night pharmacy. A night pharmacy has already been established in Cliristchurch, a.nd steps are now, it is understood, being taken to exempt this pharmacy from closing under the requisition, and no doubt similar steps will shortly bo taken in other towns.