WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8432, 2 May 1907, Page 5

WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

LETTER FROM THE MINISTER OF LABOUR.

'" In reply to a* telegram'from Mr A. W. Hogg, \M.H.R.,g asking him to countermand the edict of the Labour Department |n' imposing the Saturday half-holiday rigidly on shop assistants hot exclusively engaged at counter work, the' Minister of Labour (Hon. J. A. Millar) has written, stating that, in imposing the Saturday half-holiday on owners of factories, he' is simply carrying out the law., The' Saturday half-holiday was fixed by Parliament, , arid*-no* person had any right to suspend the operation of that clause of the Act without the authority Jof Parliament. Having strictly enforced the provisions of both the Arbitration and the Shops and Offices Acts,, Mr Millar considers that it is imperative on him to see that the Factories Act is Observed, especially as it had been officially brought under his flotice that he, as head of the Department of Labour, was deliberately breaking the law. Mr, Millar further states,: —"As you are aware, Parliament will meet in three months, when, if deemed desirable, amendment can fee* made to provide for the position that has arisen. Personally, I have no objection, under certain conditions, to have a clause put in the Factories Act to meet such cases as are affected by the decision of the Department; but I,will be no party to permit, anything which will tend to take away ithe Saturday halfholiday provided for factories. Whether a distinction could be made between a workroom attached to a shop and a factbry proper is a matter for consideration, and if this can be done without jeopardising the Saturday half-holiday, which has been observed for years under the Factories Act, I will not object. But in the meantime I intend to strictly enforce what Parliament has said is to be done, and I think you yourself must agree that this is the position for any Minister to be in, as if you once admit the right of a Minister to suspend a law, or any part of_a law, then you grant to a Minister of the day the autocratic power to suspend the operation of any law."