RETAILERS’ CODE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 671, 25 October 1933, Page 5

RETAILERS’ CODE

SMALL SIIOPS EXEMPT Washington, October 23 Mr. Roosevelt to-day signed the rotail stores code which is to become effective on October 30. At the same time he issued a significant statement taking cognisance of the recurring disputes over the "merit elause" in the industrial codes. The President stated, in a letter to General Johnson, explaining the code, "It has to be understood that there is nothing in the labour clauses of the industrial eontrol law to interfere with the 'bona fide exercise of the right of employers to select, retain, or advance employees on the basis of individual merit'." This is in direct variance to the established thesis of the labour leaders, and is expected to pi'Qduce pronounced opposition therefrom. In approving of the retail code Mr Roosevelt swung the N.R.A. into a new course by exempting both from the code and voluntary re-employ-ment agreement tliose establishments employing less than five persons in towns of 2500 population or less. The higlilights of the code, which incorporates the anti-child labour feature are: differentials in wages between the northern and southern sections of the country, a rule governing fair trade practiees, with reference to advertising; also articles which may be sold retail below the standard or advertised price provided the shopkeeper makes a profit therefrom. It is estimated the code will affect approximately 1,000,000 shops.