BUSINESS ENDANGERED

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1921, Page 1

BUSINESS ENDANGERED

THE SMALL SHOPKEEPER

AIINiSTPU’S PROMISE

WELLINGTON, March 3. A larger and representative deputation of small shopkeepers, headed by Air G. H. Bayliss, waited upon the Hon. G. J. Anderson (Minister for Labour), to urge that the Shops and Offices Act should be further amended so as to permit small shopkeepers employing no assistants to keep open later than 6 p.nt., the holir fixed by t)u‘ amended act of last session. Air Bnvliss and other speakers stated that tiie Act as it now stood .vas diverting oustoni From the suburban diops to Hie big city shops. The shops iii the suburbs now had to close at 6 p.m., and many of th c suburban residents did not get home from business till 6 o’clock or later. They suggested that the hour for small shopkeepers without assistants to close should he 8 p.m., that the dosing time should fee left to their own discretion, or tint the hour of closing should bo decided >y the majority of the small shopkeepers iii each trade. |

A suburban tailor stated that, owing to 6 o'clock closing, a customer, hi the Government employ had to get tine off to eiiable liini to gel measured .'or a suit.

A returned soldier said that one department of the Government, the Ropnitriatiiem Department, .was assisting returned soldiers to set tip in business but another department, the Labour Department was compelling them to close at 6 p.m. thus putting them out of business. AF'fXjSTKR’S REPLY.

The Minister said that he • had just recently taken over the portfolio of Labour but bis predecessor (Sir AY iI - liam Herries) had been guided in this legislation by very competent advisers. Thc Arbitration Court, through Air Justice Stringer, had expressed the ‘opinion that the hours of closing of shops should either be fixed by legislation, or the court should l> 0 given the power to fix the closing hour, in

either case irrespective of whether assistants were employed in the sho) s |or not. Th 0 Act had 'been soma months j before the House, hut no one in the j House oi' throughout the Dominion ob--1 Hooted to the clause in question and it I I went through. ,Since the extreme dif- ■ Acuities of the position were put before j him, Sir AYillin.ni Herries had written a note, dated January 26th., stating, I “This clause was agreed to after representations by employers and shop assistants. There are numerous exemptions. T would suggest that an answer should be sent saving that th 0 matter will be again considered when legislation is introduced next session.” Air Alasscy also the Alinister said, had stated in Dunedin that a bill would lie introduced and that if it- was not. stonewalled it would be carried this coming session. That, said Air Anderson, was the Government's intention. The Government would give tho House the opportunity of altering the law. The sympathy of the Government was with the man who was starting, and they all wanted to help the returned soldiers. He pointed out that neither the extreme Labour men nor the other Labour men in the House had opposed the clause and that did not look as though Lnbotir objected to it. The Government would introduce a bill, and if there was no obstruction he had no doubt it would go- through; hut- if there was obstruction they would have to wait until next session, when the Government ertuld stand up to it. Re suggested that those concerned, should hold another meeting, and lot the Government know whether they wanted a certain closing hour fixed by still nt'c or wanted to be unlimited in the matter. They seemed rather undecided about it at present; but he pointed ’out that if no limit was fixed they would have trouble amongst themselves, soirn wanting to close at a certain houV. while others wanted to keep open. Hr though it would be a good system if the people in each trade should decide when to close.