HOURS OF SHOPS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21205, 30 August 1940, Page 8

HOURS OF SHOPS

DEBATE IN HOUSE SITTING ENDS AT 2.20 A.M. WITHDRAWAL OF CLAUSE (By Telegraph.—piess Association) WELLINGTON, Friday A clause in the Statutes Amendment Bill giving the Court of Arbitration power to fix the opening and closing hours of shops on any working day, in any award relating to the employment of shop assistants, provoked considerable criticism from members of the Opposition in the House of Representatives late last night and early this morning. A Government member, Mr F. W. Schramm (Auckland East) also attacked the clause, the main point of which was that power was conferred on the Court to fix the closing hour of shops at any time on any day. This, it was contended, involved the possibility of interference with the weekly half-holiday by the Court. Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Independent—Egmont), when the bill was in the committee stages, said he doubted if a single shopkeeper in the country knew a word about the clause. The Hon. W. E. Barnard (Napier) inquired whether under the clause f the Court would have power to prevent stores being kept open on Saturday morning. If there were suchpower the matter should be openly discussed in the House. Willingness To Amend The Minister of Labour, the Hon. • P. C. Webb, said the clause merely reinstated the power that previously existed in the Act. There was no suggestion that the Court would have power to interfere with the halfholiday. He assured the House that if the result of the clause inflicted any real hardship or was in any way abused, he would have no compunction in’asking the House to have it amended. Mr J. O’Brien (Government — Westland) said the discussion appeared to him to be a big noise about what was really a genuine attempt to give satisfaction to employees and shopkeepers. There was hardly a businessmen’s association that did not want the clause. Introduction Later After some further discussion, on the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser’s suggestion, the clause was withdrawn with a view to its reintroduction in a bill to be brought down at a later date. Tvg> more clauses were forced to a* division at a later stage in the committee. These were the clauses dealing with town planning and transport licensing. Both clauses were carried, by 32 votes to 17 and 30 to 17 respectively. The bill was finally put through all stages by 2.20 a.m., and the House rose until 10.30 this morning. 1 Debate On Finance Bill The House met again at 10.30 to- • day, when several minor amendments i to the Health Amendment Bill made 1 in the Legislative Council were apj proved. ; Urgency was granted the passing j of the Finance Bill No. 2, moving the i second reading of which the Minister I of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, exj plained in detail the various clauses lof the measure. With regard to the | clause authorising the development of the linen flax industry in the Dominion, the Minister said this industry was being set up at the request of the British Government to provide material for aeroplane coverings.

In reply to an interjection, Mr Nash said the question of the manufacture of machinery for dealing with flax in New Zealand was under consideration. It was estimated that the total outlay this year on the industry would be £530,000. Tax on Savings Bonds Discussing the proposal to collect in advance from purchasers of national savings bonds the 'national security tax and the social security charge on income from the bond during its currency, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Opposition-Kaipara) said it looked to him an ingenious way of collecting taxation ahead. Mr Nash said that if it transpired that the tax had been overpaid, adjustments would be made. Mr Coates said a principle was involved in that money already invested had already paid taxation, and now it had to pay it again. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment at 1 p.m.