SHOPS & OFFICES

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19896, 27 May 1936, Page 9

SHOPS & OFFICES

l v ' BILL INTRODUCED. 2 MAIN POINTS OUTLINED. . i E DEFINITION OF OCCUPIERS. WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The main points in the Shops and Ulilces Amendment Bill were outlined by the tion. 11. ’l‘. Armstrong, .\linis~ ter oi' Labour. in opening the second ireading debate on the measure in the ilouse of Representatives this evening. Mr Armstrong said since the Bill had been reported back to the House by the Labour Bills Committee he had received numerous requests for further amendments. Mr Armstrong said the operation of the clauses restricting hours or work 'liad been postponed until September 1 because there was provision for uppeals by employers against the shorter hours. The Arbitration court had as—sured the Government that it would be iable to complete the hearing of ap—.peals in the time now allowed. Reference was also made by the Minister to the detlnition in the Bill of occupiers of shops, Some large ilrms, he said. had adopted the prac—tice of placing juniors in charge of branch stores and shops anal calling ‘thrm occupiers, so that they would not be deemed to he shop assistants. Thet‘ i could be called what they like. but uniless they received 150 a week in the raSe o! hlalo workers or ii a week in ‘tho case of female workers, they would ‘be classed as shop assistants and brought within the provisions of the Act. Overtime Payments. We are laying it down that all overtime must be paid for at time and ahaif, with a minimum of is 6d an hour. :We are also reducing the maximum number of hours 01' overtime permissible in any one year from 120 to 60. “ As the Bill stands at present the overtime provisions do not apply to workers receiving £3OO a. year or more. There have been vigorous protests that these people would be made to do all overtime work. and i propose to introduce an amendment during the committee stages to alter that.“ The minimum wage or 153 a week, rising in half—yearly increments of Its a week to £2 a week after three years‘ service, had been strenuously opposed in some quarters, the Minister said. The business which could not aii'ord to pay £2 a week to a worker with three years‘ experience did not de—serve to be in existence at all. Boarding-Houses. The clause dealing with boardinghouses under the heading of. hotels and restaurants 'would also be amended during the committee stages. As the Bill stood at present boarding-houses employing not less than two persons. in addition to members of the family of the occupier. and with accommoda—tion for 10 boarders were brought un~ der the provisions of the Bill. It was proposed to reduce the number oi boarders to live in order to bring under the Act scores of boarding-houses which would otherwise escape. i Regardingr the extension of the ap—‘plication of the Act to the ofliccs of solicitors, mining companies and min—ers‘ unions, Mr Armstrong said there had been complaints by solicitors on ‘the score or expense but it was possible an amendment would be intro‘duced in committee providing a way out of the difficulty. i LEGAL EMPLOYEES. i PETITION TO PARLIAMENT. WELLINGTON, Tuesday. In a petition to Parliament presented to-day by the Minister of Justice, the lion. H. C. It. .\lason, the legal employees or Dunedin seek the retention of the provision exempting solicitors’ oilices from the Shops and Otilces Act. a provision which it is proposed to repeal by the amending legislation now before the House. . The petitioners claim that the re—peal or the exemption would not im—prove the present conditions of em—iployment in legal ottlces, but would affect a large number of employees de— Irlmentaliy through the inevitable loss. of certain rights now enjoyed.