Correspondence.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 168, 15 January 1895, Page 2

Correspondence.

SHOPS AND SHOP ASSISTANTS ACT.

TO TJTE EPITOR OF THE STAR. Sir, — I observe by your leader of the 9th instant in which you say : — " Our " attention has been drawn to the fact " that country storekeepers have been 41 placed in an awkward position by the " Shops and Shop Assistants Act. The " Act provides that all shops at which 41 any person is employed must be closed "on one half -day in each week. Now, "numbers of country stores are also " post and telegraph offices, and the po--44 sitiou is that a country storekeeper, 44 who is also postmaster, is compelled "by law to keep his premises open for 41 the delivery of mails and post office 44 business, while, at the same time, he 44 is compelled, under fear of a penalty " of £o, to close his store at 1 o'clock on '■ one day in each week. Whatever is " done the law will be broken, and the 41 question is: What is he to do? No 44 storekeeper could keep his shop open 44 for delivery of mails only and refuse " to supply a customer, for if he did the " probabilities are that he would give 44 offence and thus injure his business." The person who has drawn yonr attention to the Act, ought first to have read it himself; before expressing an opinion upon a question which is likely to cause unnecessary anxiety in the minds of those who keep country shops (stores). Section 2 of the Act reads :— " Closed 41 with reference to shops means closed " against admission of the public for the " purpose oi trade for tke remainder of " the day." If delivering Her Majesty's mail is trade then any shopkeeper who is also postmaster will be liable under section 6 of the Act, providing that his place of business is situated within a city, borough, or town district but not otherwise. This section reads : — *' All shops in " any city, borough or town district shall " be closed in accordance with with this 41 Act. It does not therefore apply to " country stores in the ordinary accep- " tation of the the term. Section 8, how- " ever, says : — " All shop assistants in " shops outside the limits of cities, bor- " oughs and town districts " Shall have a half-holiday from the " hour of one of the clock in the after- " noon of some working day in each " week, but this section does not compel " the closing of the shop or store. It " merely provides that shop assistants " shall be allowed the same priviledge "as those who are employed in cities, " etc." The Act does not therefore require country shops (stores) to be closed on any half holiday. I am, etc-, John Stevens. Bulls, January 10th, 1895.