CLOSING OF SMALL SHOPKEEPERS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 160, 2 April 1921, Page 12

CLOSING OF SMALL SHOPKEEPERS

Sir, —I attended the Magistrate’s Court (his morning to take advantage (as I thought) of an amendment to the Shops and Offices Act, 1920. This amendment to the Shops and Offices Act, 1921, provided that any shopkeeper not employing .assistants could appeal to a Magistrate for exemption from the 6 o’clock closing, and the Magistrate at his discretion, and where he was satisfied hardship was occasioned by being compelled to close at 6 p.m., would give relief and allow the applicant permission to remain open till a later hour (in my case 8 o’clock). I used to keep my shop (furniture and household requisites) open till 81 o’clock every night (except early closing day) from the time the business was started six years ago until a fortnight before last Christmas, when I was given one day’s notice by tho Labour Department to close at. 6 p.m. The Magistrate was satisfied that hardship was occasioned thereby, but he regretted being unable to help me because his hands were tied hy the Labour Department. This Labour Department is no doubt a very useful institution, but it seems to bo taking too great an interest in, and control of, the business interests of the city of Wellington, besides trying to-ourtail the liberty of the subject. The Magistrate was practically threatened that if he granted an. exemption the Labour Department would enforce the requisition for early closing. It. would be interesting to know who engineered and signed this early closing requisition, certainly not the small shopkeepers, who knew nothing of it until it had been actually accomplished. In my own case I was not asked to sign either for or against the requisitiorf—perhaps it was engineered by certain large firms, auctioneers, and others, who were already closing at 6 o’clock and earlier. I understand a large number of shopkeepers are applying to the Magistrate next Friday for exemption, but can assure them that in the face of the opposition from the Labour Department it is an alisolute farce to do so. I trust some concerted action will be taken by the small shopkeepers.—l am, et ' "■ (MRS.) B. PARSONS, 45 Cleveland Street, Brooklyn. April L 1921.