The Shops Act.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 267, 15 November 1904, Page 2

The Shops Act.

CAUSES SOME DIVERSION IN CHKISTCHUKCH.

(For Press Association.) CHMSTCHURCH, Nov. 14. The bringing into operation of tho Shops and. Offices Act in Christchurch has resulted in general confusion. Nobody seems quite to know to what trades the measure applies, and a good many people frankly admit that they do not care, so far as the hours are concerned. Not so much objection is taken to them in the majority of cases, though the tobacconists and butchers are particularly loud in their complaints ; but trong excoption is taken to the .revision which exempts shops with ■lO assistants from the operation of the measure. It is argued that this will result in wholesale abuse and be the means of throwing many assistants out of work. Shopkeepers have had a good deal of dilllculty In securing copies !of the Act, and meantime many of them arc simply conducting their businesses on the usual lines until such time as they get a. lead from tho department, Tho Labour Department has been thronged all day with tradespeople seeking official rulings, but that department ifrself is very vague and nebulous concerning the act and its interpretation. The hairdressers are of opinion that they come under the special clause exempting them from observing the now statutory hours, as they are working under hours fixed by a ruling of the Arbitration Court; but as most of them are attached to tobacconists' shops tho difficulty of disassociating the two trades is regarded as obvious and insuperable. There is also a lot of indignation among tobacconists at the hotels being allowed to sell cigars and cigurettes for soven hours a day longer than the tradespeople, as well as on halfholidays. ■ The butchers complain that it is impossible to prepare small goods and cut up their meat in time for distribution to customers if they cannot begin work before eight in tho morning, nnd that tho difficulty will be especially felt on Saturday and during summer, when the meat Is highly perishable. The grocers' principal trouble is over tihe delivery carts, which, they say, canjiot possibly be finished by eight o'clock at night. The only alternative will be for customers to either carry their own gooos home or give their orders on the previous day. The chemists are not sure whether they come under the act, but as they have no outside competition they are concerned less for themselves than for the inconvenience to the public should they have to observe the statutory closing hours. The hurdware and soft goods trades ore less exercised, though they regard the hours as restrictive and calculated to harm their businesses. Tho whole act has created a lot of political feeling, and is generally reprobated among those whom it affects, ACTION IN DUNEDIN. DUNEDIN, Nov. 14. With tho exception of the hairdressers' and tobacconists, who kept open, all shops wore closed at six o'clock to-night in complianco with the Shops and Offices Act. At the unnual meeting of o StarrBowkett Society to-night it was saiid that the act applied and that the offices could not be opened in the evening as hitherto to receive subscri(>tiions. It was decided to take legal advice. Tho local Savings Bank, which ban always opened on one or two evenings to recefvo deposits, is also likely to be affected. At a meeting of hairdressers this evening resolutions wero carried protesting strongly against tho Legislative Council's action in introducing the early closing clause, and Hie executive was Instructed to draw up a jjetiition for presentation to tho Minister for Labour, and resolving that an endeavour should be made to secure tho hours fixed by tho Arbitration Court, the hours of assistants to be fllfty-tvo par week , and that they be allowed to arrange thoir time with their individual mas-! tens ; that master hairdressers comply with the provisions of the act as to closing until an answer is received to the petition to tho Preniior. Wellington chemists are complaining strongly at their inclusion In tho early closing provisions of the now Shops and Offices Act, At a meeting held to discuss the position it «ia» unanimously decided that a strong protest bo made, and a committee was appointed to present a petition to the Minister for Labour.