Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] THURSDAY, NOV. 17,1904. That Shops and Offices Bill.

Manawatu Herald, 17 November 1904, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] THURSDAY, NOV. 17,1904. That Shops and Offices Bill.

•* Probably never has an act of Parliament earned tha New Zealand Governor’s signature which has caused such dissent and dissatisfaction as that which tradesmen throughout the large cities of the colony had to fall in line with on Saturday last - “ The Shops and Offices Act, 1904.” Indignation

meetings are being held in all the big centres, and it will be interesting to watch the'outcome. Mr T. M. Wilford, a Government member, told a Wellington deputation yesterday that the Act was inoperative, and they need not take any notice of it. He contended that under the provisions of the new law a combined district must be gazetted. This has not been done, and therefore the Act cannot, in his opinion, be enforced till the districts are ’'’pally defined and gazetted. The Premier himself cannot be too sanguine as to the working of the Bill, for he wires as follows in reply to a protest by Mr Bedford, M.H.R., on behalf of Dunedin tradesmen :—“ I am sorry to hear the provisions as to early closing in the 3hops and Offices *ct are causing hardship. Several matters are now before the law officers for legal interpretation. Tf the same oSerf.ptitm had been made under clause 3 as are provided under clause 15 relating to the statutory closing day, a great deal of friction would have been avoided I will advise you further when the legal position is definitely settled.”