SHOPPING HOURS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 October 1940, Page 7

SHOPPING HOURS

PROTEST AGAINST PROPOSED LEGISLATION. COUNTY COUNCILLORS' VIEWS. A strong protest against any amendment being made in the present legislation relating to shopping hours was made at a meeting of the Masterton County Council yesterday afternoon. It was decided to send a telegram to the Prime Minister protesting against the legislation at present before the House. A circular was received from Mr C. A. Wilkinson, M.P. for Egmont, directing the attention of the council to the legislation proposed by the Government amending the Shops and Offices’ Act providing for opening and closing hours. It was pointed out that the right to fix a half-holiday would be lost and the opening and closing hours for shops would be fixed by a judge of the Arbitration Court. Mr J. C. D. Mackley (County Clerk) stated that he had written to Mr J. Robertson, member for Masterton for his opinion as to the Government’s intention in altering the present legislation. Mr Robertson had replied that in view of the fact that the Court of Arbitration fixed the number of hours to be worked it was consistent that it should be empowered to say when they should be worked. He considered that shopkeepers who employed labour were in favour of the new legislation but those who didn’t were opposed to it on the grounds that their hotirs would be restricted. Councillor W. I. Armstrong: “I am strongly opposed to the legislation. I consider that we should support Mr Wilkinson. It would create great difficulty for the community. If the Government had the right, through the Court of Arbitration, to fix the closing hours and the half day I can see the time coming when shops will be open from 9 to 4.30. Any alteration of the present hours would be detrimental to the farming community. I consider we should oppose the legislation to the greatest possible extent. I move that we send a telegram to the Prime Minister protesting against the Bill and give our support to Mr Wilkinson.” “It is only a further step in the socialisation plan,” stated the chairman. Mr R. E. Gordon Lee, in seconding the motion. “It is one more leg in.” Councillor Armstrong: “It is penalising the farming community.” Councillor J. W. Colquhoun: “It is going to seriously inconvenience our own men if Friday night shopping is cut out.” Councillor G. Moore: “They don t seem to realise that.” Councillor Armstrong: “The worst feature is that the public who will be affected by the change are not to be consulted.” Councillor P. R. Welch: “It will come to the stage where we will have to give our men a half day to go and get their hair cut. That will help production along a lot.” Councillor Moore: “It is definitely restrictive to the war effort." “If the Labour Caucus has discussed it and wants it to go through then ? will go through all right.” observed Mr Gordon Lee. The matter then lapsed.