HOURS OF SHOPS

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1940, Page 6

HOURS OF SHOPS

MR. WILKINSON'S FEARS NO SATURDAY OPENING LATE NIGHT MIGHT GO Contending that the proposal may be aimed at closing shops on Saturday mornings, eventually doing away with the late shopping night and making a Saturday half-holiday compulsory, Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., Ellham, has issued a circular letter strongly opposing suggested amendments to the Shops and Offices Act. 1a2 amendments were introduced last month in a Statutes Revision Bill but were wtihdrawn*, an indication being given that they would probably be reintroduced as a separate Bill. Mr. Wilkinson suggests that organisations receiving the letter should make representations to the local member of Parliament and then to the Prime Minister. It might seem a small matter while the nation was at war, but he considers that it could be attended to without detracting from the war effort. Possibilities Outline Mr. Wilkinson contends that the closing of shops on Saturday mornings would mean great inconvenience to the general public and the farming community as well as serious 'oss to the business people. The abolition of the late shopping night in his opinion would be detrimental to all, including workers whosc unions might be pressing for the legislation. "It is true," says the letter, "that the decisions of an Arbitration Court judge, under the proposed legislation, could be overridden on appeal before a magistrate, but this kind of fiing means money, time and trouble, whereas if the law remains as at present nothing of that kind would be necessary. In any case it seems strange that a magistrate could reverse the decision of a Supreme Court judge. ' The particular clause to which Mr. Wilkinson refers states: "In any award relating to the employment of shop-assist-ants, the Court of Arbitration may fix the hours of opening and the hours of closing on any working-day of all shops in the industry to which the award relates in any industrial district in which the award has effect, or in any specified part of any such district, irrespective of whether or not any assistants are employed in those shops." Another clause extends the provisions to any shop vhether employing assistants or not and authority. is given magistrates to grant exemption from any opening hours fixed by an award.