SHOPKEEPERS FINED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8083, 12 April 1906, Page 3

SHOPKEEPERS FINED.

BREACHES OF THE CLOSING CLAUSES.

Ai. I lie S.M. Court, New Plymouth, on Wednesday, informations against two shopkeepers for breaches of Section 3, of the Shops anil Offices Aot were beard George Ricldell, butcher, was charged with having kept an assistant named Henry Harvey employed " later than hal£-an-hour after the time prescribed" for assistants. Mr C. W. Govett prosecuted ou behalf of the Department of Labor. Evidence of the offence was given by the Inspector of Factories, Adam Donald, In reply to a question he said proprietors or managers of establishments ; could work jfli midnight if they pleased, as long & the assistants were not detained. Hpjsss he received any different instructions from the Department he would take no objection to managers working. He did not elass thein as assistants, for they represented the proprietors.

The defendant said that it there had been a breach of the Act it was not an intentional one. Friday night work had been a regular practice in the past. He was not aware that the assistant continued to work since the warning was issued. A nominal penalty of 5s anil i'l Ss costs, was imposed. Mark Johnston, grocer, of Devon street, was similarly charged. An assistant named Henry Ford had been employed till 7.35, Defendant, in pleading guilty, said that he was new to the business. He had been under the impression that his predecessor, Mr Hcaly, had a permit, for his assistant to work late. • Sergt. Haddrell said that lie, as Inspector, had the power to give permits for special occasions, such ;is stock-taking, but iu the present case there was no justification for such a permit, nor was any issued. The permits were only given undur exceptional circumstances. A fine of os, with £1 Ms coits, wasimposed. Mr Govett said that in future eases the Department would ask for a heavier penalty, as ample warning had now been given.