CLOSING OF SHOPS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1919, Page 4

CLOSING OF SHOPS.

AN IMPORTANT DECISION, By Telegraph.—Press Association, Timaru, Last Night. Mr. V. G. Day, S.M., gave hie dtclsicn to-day in a test case which i* Mid to a«cct ul! the towns of the Dominion. Twelve grocers were summoned by the Labor Department for failing to close on New Year's Eve at 7, the hour fixed by requisition. Reference wa» made to the decision of a judge that "evening" in the Shops Act meant after tunaet. 'I li« amendment of the Act in the War Herniations Act of last session intended to remove the doubt as to what was meant by evening. The amendment says: "Evening shall be deemed to be the time of the day not earlier than five o'clock in the afternoon," and that in to apply to all existing requisitions. Mr. Day held that it does not apply, but that "not earlier" limits the application to nights on which the sun sets before S o'clock. He dismissed on 4 case, and adjourned th« rest to enable the Labor Department to appeal if it deems fit. It is understood that If thfl decision is correct it is doubtful whether any requisition in the Dominion re closing hours has any legal value.