LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 74, 21 September 1894, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

I Per Press Association] Wellington, September 20. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. On the motion for going into comraittee on the Shops and Shop-assistants Bill, Hon. Reynolds aaid he considered the people did not desire the measure. He intimated his intention of opposing it till public opinion was more pronounced. — The Bill was committed. On the interpretation clause Hon. Reynolds moved an amendment, its effect being to exempt shops, in which no outside labour was im ployed, from holiday closing, his argument being that compulsory closing would entail great hardships upon feeble people nnd widows. Hons. Bigg and Jenkinson hoped the fate of the Bill would be decided lit once. Hon. Shrimski supported the amendment as also did Hon. Sir George Whitmore. Hon. McCulloch, in supporting the Bill, said it would be discourteous to the House and to the Labor Bills Committee of the Council to reject the Bill before discussing the latter's amendments. Hon Swanson supported Hon. Ray' Holds' amendment, urging that a great hardship would be entailed on many deserving persons and the public if nmall shops were closed. Eventually the Hon. Reynolds' amendment was carried by 17 to 13. Hon. St. Patrick Buckley said, as I;he amendment struck at a vital principle of the Bill, he thought it better that progress be reported to allow him to consult his colleagues. The Council then adjourned.