TRADERS’ GRIEVANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1925, Page 4

TRADERS’ GRIEVANCE

LAW BROKEN WITH IMPUNITY

WELLINGTON, July 2.3. Mr 11. L. Hammond, of the Employers’ Federation, made some pertinentremarks at the meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce when speaking on behalf of members of the retail tobacco trade, who asked the support of the chamber in their endeavours to divert the trade into legal channels. Mr Hammond first outlined the action which had been taken by the retailers to secure that the tobacco trade was conducted in legal hours. It involved the question of protection of the rights of traders to the extent that they had a right to he protected. Special hours had been provided on certain days of the week as stated in the award, lmt legitimate tobacconists were being handicapped by illegal sales every day of the week, not excluding Sundays, it was notorious that there were shops in Wellington where one could buy cigarettes any hour ol the (lav up to 11 o’clock and even midnight and on Sundays. Some were confectioners’ shops ; others were marble bars. All those shops were breaking the law which sold cigarettes alter the hours at which tobacconists were compelled to close.

The Labour Department was charged with enforcing the law. but. there was a difficulty in doing ii. They had tu catch the offender red-handed, and In do so had to >ead an inspector in private capacity or employ a member ol the public. This meant taking part in a breach of the law, and that method had not been encouraged by the magistrates in court, for they had disapproved of it. T herelore the department was reluctant to prosecute in such eases, (,'uite a large percentage ol the trade was going through illegitimate channels, and private traders thought some means, should be devised to suppress this illegal trading.

" The customers are chiefly young people, hoys and girls and young women,” continued Mr Hammond, “and these voting people are growing up with the knowledge that they can break the law with imiumity and thus imderm.ine their sense ol respousibil-

They asked the chamber to recognise that the position in the tobacco trade to-day might he the position of any trade to-morrow, and to consider ii it was not the duty of the Government to give effect lo legislation which would make the law operative. The present penalties were not high enough to defer men Irom breaking the law. Ihe proposed license should only he a nominal one. and lie issued without niserimina--1 ion. Offenders should lie liable to a line for the first offence, and upon a second offence the license should ho withdrawn, so debarring them from trading in tobacco. Having lost his license, the possession ol stocks ol cigarettes or tobacco would he prima lane evidence ol illegal trading. The present position was taken advantage of by fruiterers and eonlcctioners who had specially long hours, and who sold tobacco as a side line. The results of meetings with the late Prime Minister and the lion. G. J. Anderson were mentioned, hut the slipping of the chamber would enhance their chance 1,1 gelling legislation through this session.

Replying lo questions. Mr Hammond said that if licenses were issued merchants would then know if their customers could lie supplied. At present the merchant s had no delinile knowledge that their clients were In-caking the law. and then-lore could not cut oil supplies. The suggested license would only amount to three-larthings per day, and would not he a hardship even iiixui a widow. Mr 11, C. Smith considered the tobacconists had a real grievance. Only lasi Sunday lie saw a man leaving a shop opening Die cigar.-ties he had just bought. 11 was done quite openly. .Mr 11 ii 11 1 : The man would have Iren annoyed II he could not have got lliem. t Laughter.) The deputation having withdrawn, the chairman moved: “That this chamber, being euitvinred that the ini crests of Die retail trade are being del riuientnllv affected by the amount of illegitimate trade now taking place e- ,-i i’cmili <i! lie iiieifeel i veliess ol the pioMUit law l" suppress after-hour -ales. G oi ihe opinion that the Government should yiiurt immediately the legislation ueee.-saiy to a (ford to lawabiding traders the measure ol prelection which they have the right to expect.” Mr J. T. Martin seconded the proposition. which was carried imunimuiisly