SHOPS & OFFICES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 December 1940, Page 11

SHOPS & OFFICES

ACT TO BE CONSOLIDATED DRAFT TO BE SUBMITTED SHORTLY. MANY CONTENTIOUS MATTERS RAISED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A hope that a draft of the Bill consolidating the Shops and Offices Act would be prepared and submitted for the consideration of the parties concerned before Christmas was expressed yesterday by the Minister of Labour, Mr. Webb, in an interview. Asked- if the proposals contained in the draft would be made public, Mr. Webb answered: “No, I hope not. An open controversy on the clauses of the Bill would militate against the spirit of harmony which I hope will prevail when the Bill is being discussed on its merits by the conference to be held. I have a very open mind on the matter, end I am anxious that the Bill should meet the requirements of industry. If full agreement cannot be obtained on any clause, compromise may be effected between the parties concerned to meet the peculiar conditions arising cut of the war.”

Mr. Webb said that in any case the fact that all interested parties would give the proposals full discussion would be very helpful to him in coming to a definite conclusion as to what he would be justified in recommending the Government to propose to Parliament. “I realise that a Bill of this kind always raises many contentious matters,” Mr. Webb said. “Consequently, it is my opinion that any propbsed amendments to the Shops and Offices Act should be thoruoghly investigated in order that we may gain a full.knowledge of what the reaction to industry would mean, particularly during the war period when the Empire is fighting for its existence. We have to be quite sure that every element of energy is placed at the best disposal of the nation, and I think that that point of view is becoming more apparent to everybody.”