SHOP HOURS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 36, 6 November 1919, Page 7

SHOP HOURS

NO LEGISLATION THIS SESSION

LEGAL DIFFICULTIES

Early in tho session the Prime Ministor was asked by representatives of the Shop Assistants' Unions to introduce legislation amending . the Shops and Offices Act to reduce tho hours of employees in shops Lolow the limit now fixed by Statute, 52 hours per week. It was pointed out to him at the time that tho great majority of the shopkeopers would bo nuitq willing to agree to a reduction of hours, but unless the hours were fixed by law (here would never be possible any general reduction, and possibly no reduction at all in some trades owing to individual business ileoplo holding out against.the reform.' It was further urged that tho hours were oppressively long for the employees to be required fo work, that in all other occupations the hours had beon reduced by tho Arbitration Court or by Industrial Agreement, but that in respect of shops the Court had refused to make any reduction of hour's in view ot the fact that the regulation of hours at present was done by Statute. Mr. Massoy had to reply that thera would not be sufficient timo this session to amend tho Shops and Offices Act, for, as ho pointed out, the introduction of an amending Bill would open up the whole field of the Act for discussion and amendment. He made a proposal which gave a measure of satisfaction—that ho should introduce a ono-clausc Bill giving the Arbitration Court power to regulate the hours during which shops might be open for business. This clause was duly, introduced, and it has stood on the order paper for several days. / Mr. M'Coinbs asked. a question about this Bill in tho House yesterday, and he made tho suggestion that tho Prime Minister was refraining frpm going on. With the Bill in view of representations against tho Bill by business people. Mr. Massey replied resenting this imputation strenuously. He said that unfortunately the Bill would have to be dropped, but for no such reason as that suggested. The Crown Law officers had reported to him that it would be impossible to draft a Bill to meet the case.Regarding the form of tho Bill already before tho House he had been advised that the subject matter of the one operative clauso was quite irrelevant to tho Act to amend, the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The Crown Law officers had spent hours on the question, and at the end of' their deliberations they had reported to him as he had informed the House. In view of this the question would have to be postponed until next session, but if ho were in office an amending Bill would be brought down early in next session, and full opportunities would be afforded to interested parties to give evidence on the Bill.