THE SHOPS’ ACT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1565, 22 September 1905, Page 2

THE SHOPS’ ACT.

(Per Press Association.) ■Wellington, last night, A deputation, representing the Wellington Shop Assistants' Association, waited upon Mr Arnold, Chairman of the Labor Bills Committee of the House, to thank him on behalf of the shop assistants for his efforts in counectioa with the Shops and Offices Bill. Mr Arnold returned thanks briefly. Ho said that twelve mooths previously very little attention had been paid to oarly olosing, the disoussion being confined to shop assistants' hours. Sinoe then the attention of Parliament and of tho country had been directed to the question of early olosing, and the general opinion was that long hours were not desirable from any point of view. To avoid them legislation in the direction of early dosing was neoes sary. The Bill as it bad left the House was'entirely in favor of the small employers as against the shopkeeper who employed labor, and that must tell against the employee. That was regrettable, sinoe employer and employees should work together, and he hoped that the Council would introduce an amendment that would make tho Bill more acceptable to all classes. In the following session he intended, if a member, to himself introduoe an Early Closing Bill with the object of testing the feeling of the now House.