SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17691, 31 July 1919, Page 5

SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT

AMENDMENTS. DESIRED.

(Fbom Oub Own Coeiumpondent.) CHRJSTCHURCH, July 30. A largo meeting of shop assistants, representing the drapery, boof, hardware, stationery, chemists, grocery, butchers' and hairdressers' trades, was held last night to disouss the amendments to the Shops and Offices Act.

It decided to ask Mr J. M'Combs, M.P., to draft and introduce into the House next, session a Bill embodying the following clauses:—(l) That tho hours of work par week shall not exceed 40£, all time worked before 8 a.m. and after 530 pm. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to bo paid at overtime rates, and no assistant to be employed after 12 noon on Saturdays; (2) that it shall to compulsory for every assistant to have hisor her half-holiday notwithstanding that another holiday shall have occurred in'the same week; (3) that Easter Saturday shall be declared a statutory holiday under the Act; (4) that the provision that an employee who is receiving more than £3 17 S od per week is not entitled to overtime be repealed; (5) that provision bo made in the Act for the abolition of Sunday work, and that the prcasnt clauses allowing chemists' assistants to be employed on Saturday evenings and Sunday with the exception of assistants in all nifdit pharmacies, be repealed. A committee was appointed to arrange deputations to wait upon every Cabinet Minister who visits Christchurch to secure promises that the Government will intro duco a Bill providing the above amendments during the session of Parliament or facilitate the passing of the Bill introduced by Mr M'•Combs. Tho secretary was instructed to write to the iinions in other centres whose hours are governed by the bhops and Offices Act, requesting their cooperation in making a dominion campaign for the reduction of hours, abolition of the ate night, and a -universal Saturday halflioliday for all employees.