The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Tuesday, November 22, 1887. THE SHOP HOURS BILL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 70, 22 November 1887, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Tuesday, November 22, 1887. THE SHOP HOURS BILL.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aim’st at be thy country’s Thy God’s, and truth’s. ’

Mr Joyce, member for Lyttelton, has given notice to bring down a Bill, to be called "The Shop Hours Bill,’’ whereby it is proposed to limit the hours for shops to be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., except on Saturdays, and the days preceding holidays, when they can remain open till io p.m. This extraordinary Bill is characteristic of certain politicians, who make themselves notorious by the very absurdity of their proposals, and who, to create a revolution in commercial circles—as they think—bring forward some nonsensical BRI which has no more chance of passing than they have of being made Premier. On the very face of it it is plain there is no need for legislation in this direction, and it is a pity that the time of the House should be taken up in discussing so useless a proposal. “ From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m." Where is the place of business, employing assistants, which opens at 6 a.m. ?, and generally speaking it will be found that shops are closed at 6 p.m. except, perhaps a few, the proprietors of which are trying by late hours to make both ends meet. Mr Joyce evidently wants to pose as the “ shopman’s ” friend, and in his intense zeal for their health has brought forth a wise and just enactment which deliberately meddles with the liberty of the subject. This piece of -absurdity on Mr Joyce's part is only equalled by his proposal to impose a tax on bachelors over 30 years of age. Such restrictive measures have always been found to subvert the very object they are intended to effect.