COURT NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1924, Page 1

COURT NEWS.

GRFYMOF'i I! RETAILERS St’ED. GR'FY.MOI I'll, Feb. 13. Tin- babottr !.'"partmciit proceeded agin-i. a nv-ml-ei of retailers, who kept open foi. two late eights it the one week, during rhe fe-tive season, which was contrary to the Shop Assistants awards. Penalties of £2O in each ease were claimed. Mr AY. Aleldrum. S.AF. presided. Air S. Tyson represented the I lepartmeat. The first case 'taken was that of Wm. Fletcher, hairdresser and tobneiniiisi, Taiiini St Samite! Tyson, sworn, -aid he was Inspector of Factories at Greymouth. At aiioiit ,8.15 ]i.m. on New Year's l'.ve and at 8..'11l p.m. on Saturday. lan. sth.. he visited Fletcher's premises, which lie found open and business being conducted. ’l’his was contrary to the Simp Assistants’ Award. which clearly states that there cannot be two late nights in the same week. Clause 20 of (.he award -bowed that shops must close at. 5.30 p.m. for four nights of Hie week, at 0 p.m. on one late night, and til 12 noon on the day of the weekly half-holiday. Wm. Fletcher said his shop was open till 10 p.m. on New Year's Ere and till !) p.m. on ."January sth. lie had always understood that- hairdressers were qiiite within their rights to keen open on both nights, if they so wished, ft was a custom which had long ’prevail"!.

\Vm. Garth. for whom Mr Joyce appeared. said that, all tlio hairdressers and tobacconists laid the same impression as stated by Mr T 1 lotchcr. As a matter of fact, they wore oniiUed hi keep open for two hours on a Sunday, which showed the business was one of necessity.

The Magistrate decided to reserve judgment till next' Monday. A penalty of £2O for a similai breach of the award was claimed against Patrick Tliorpy (manager of AlcGruer and Co. Ltd.), and A. Ogilvie. (manager of the “'Mayfair. ) Mr d. \V. Hannan, representing Tliorpy and Ogilvie, raised a technical objection, which was upheld by the Magistrate, that the defendants were not parties to the award. Jhe Mayfair was only a branch ol McGruor and Coy. Ltd., who were the real parties to the award. There was no evidence to show that Ogilvie was employed as managei of tlm “Maylair,' X'-jsoii and l.amont. liairdrossers, were also proceeded against, one ol the partners, Charles Lament- appearing. He pleaded not guilty. His shop was cl used from 12. -to p.m. on New A ear s Kve, and was not re-opened. Air Tyson said he passed the shop on the day in question at about <.30 p.m. There was no light in the shop, hut the <l<]oi was ajar, and there was a light in the saloon at the hack. Unless the door was securely shut against customers, the shop was open accord ing to the Shops’ and Offices’ Act Charles Lament said he had visited the shop during the evening, but had entered the shop by the hack dour. He could net recollect for what reason he had t;sited the shop. The Magistrate dismissed the information. on the grounds of insufficient evidence to justify a conviction.

Harry liruhn. butcher. Mawhera Quay, was sued for a similar penalty to the others. Mr Joyce represented jtlie ik-iendant. and admitted the breach. He had not kept any of his employees, working after A.At p.m. It was necessary To remain open after the statutory dosing hour in order to fulfill country orders. Air Tyson said that- the other butchers had closed and it was hardly fair that one should have remained open In reply to the Magistrate, he stated that Britlin was a first offender. Defendant was convicted and fined £3.