PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 25, 24 October 1917, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

HOTEL CLOSING HOURS THE LATEST WAR REGULATIONS EXPLAINED BY THE AT-TORNEY-GENERAL The Legislative Council met yesterday at 3.30 p.m. The Council adopted a resolution, moved by Sir Francis Bell, expressing sympathy ,vith the-Acting-Speaker (Hon. Vf. I\ C. Carncross) in the loss of .his son, reported killed in action. Various local Bills received from the. House of Representatives were referred to the Local Bills Committee. SHOPS AND OFFICES'AMENDMENT. ; Th§ Shops and Offices Act Amenduic-nt Bill, restricting the hours of employment of women and girls in hotels and restaurants, was further considered in Committee. Tho Hon. J. ATacGregor opposed th«" Bill. He said the marble bais supplied a public need, and they di<l a large part of their trade after the proposed closing hour, 10.30' p.m. The Council- was not justified in interfering in the manner proposed with businesses tliat represented a large amount of capital. All the evi- 1 dence heard by the. Statutes Revision Committee" had been against tho • Bill. The .women and girls employed in the majble.bars were worked in relays. The hours were not long, and (he attendants who worked late were paid a full day's wage for only a few hours' work. He regarded the Bill as an outcome of "sickly sentimentalism." Parliament ought not to interfere with the nmrblc bars at all. The Bill provided that women or girls could be employed after 10.30 p.m. if .they .were provitled with sleeping accommodation. This provision was most undesirable, since it would introduce tho "living-in" system. ; " - ■ The Hon. J. Barr said' tho fact was . that .Mf. MacGregor was opposed' to anything in the nature of Labour legislation. The Bill ;in its 'present form was a compromise, 10.30 p.m. having been sub-. Btituted for 10 p.m. The Hon. J. MacGregor moved to ist'rike out Clause 2 with' the purpose of adding a.'hew. clause; providing that the closing hours for the marble bars should 'be 11 p.m. The Hon. W. Earnshaw supported the amendment. He said lie regarded the "living-in" proposal with disfavour. ,The marble birs were serving a. useful purpose, and' the conditions of work.for .the attendants were reasonably goodSir Francis Bell said the BUI represented a compromise, and if councillors amended it in the way suggested they probably would lose the Bill altogether. ' The Hon. R. Moore said he would regard , the introduction of the "livingin" system. at marble bars and restaurants as a very'serious evil. Mr. Barr said that the. "living-in" system was already in operation in Wellington. Councillors opposed to the Bill fihould .be honest and admit that they wished to-kill it. Mr., MacGregor said, lii's amendment would mahe "living.- ill" unnecessary. ■Ho would have no objection to .it being prohibited. Clause 2. was deleted, by nine votes to lour. Barr moved ..to report progress. ■He said-he would consult .with the promoters of the Bill.

The motion was carried. t The Council adjourned at 4 p.m. until 8.30 p.m. to-day.