AN INTERESTING DECISION

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10594, 28 March 1912, Page 5

AN INTERESTING DECISION

AFFECTING SHOPKEEPERS,

(By Teleyraph—l'rcss Association ) j WELtLIXGTON, Lost Night,. | A decision of special interest to | Chinese f-rlhopkesperr; was given by Mr j Riddel!, S.M., to-day, in the case cf : the Inspector of Awards v. Cluing I Wah. < ' J . The defendant was-'c-harged' that being the occupier of a shop within tlie J moaning of the Shop*; and Offices 1 Act, he failed to close at 1-o'clock. T'lie shop is registered a.s one in which •fru-it and-groceries' are solcl." Tt is divided into two compartments, in ono of which defendant sells only fruit a.nd vegetables, and in the other fruit, vegetables, grocery, etc. On Wednesday afternoons the portion in which groceries are sold is closed, the other part being kept open. Counsel for ..■• defendant contended/ that the partitfannig of the shop did ■not constitute failure to close at 1 b'clock, sale, of fruit and vegeibbles i feame wi f Bsiithe exemption mentioned iri claus© 18 of the Act.

The MagC'Strate was of the opinibn ■that if defendant bad registered liia,' premises as two sliops lie might have been within, his rights, , but having regis ter€.d only one shop lie had faded tio comply with the law 6n the closing poimt. Defendant was fined 20s and costs. • '