1.—9.

88

[W. L. PORTMAN.

247. What hours do the juniors work ?—As far as our place is concerned we have no juniors at all. Mr. McMillan : The hours for juniors are from 8.30 to 5.30 with us, and from 8.30 to 12.30 on Saturdays, making a total of about forty-four hours a week. 248. (To Mr. Stark.) Do you know of any cases where they work longer hours than you state — thirty-eight ? I mean office assistants in warehouses ?—Only in the hardware, and some of the general merchants' offices, at certain times of the year. 249. If there were such cases, do you not think we should be justified in endeavouring to meet them by law ?—Yes. 250. Without doing anything to create friction ?—Yes. 251. You are absolutely clear on this point, that so far there has been no sign of any friction ?— That is so. 252. (To Mr. McMillan.) What position did you say you occupied ? —I am head of the enteringroom. 253. How many clerks are there under you ?—Seven. 254. Are they brought back at night ? —On only perhaps two nights in the month ; that is the most. As a rule, we work on till 7 o'clock, having half an hour off for tea, instead of coming back afterwards. 255. How often does that occur —working on till 7 ?—Only twice a month at the very most. 256. What holidays do the hands get ? What concessions ?—They get the ten days each year, sick-pay, and all public holidays on full pay. 257. (To Mr. Portman.) What position do you occupy ?—I am cashier and assistant ledger-keeper. 258. You are the head of your particular department ?—Yes. 259. How many clerks have you under your directions ? —I stand next to the accountant. 260. You have no clerks immediately under your control ? —Yes, two, who are connected with the ledgers, would be immediately under me. 261. What hours do they work ?—Similar to those Mr. McMillan stated —from 8.30 to 5.30. 262. How often do you go back at night, or do your assistants go back at night ?—We have as a rule about three weeks each half-year for stocktaking, and there are a few odd nights during the six months when we come back —say, a night about the 20th of the month. It might amount to a week during the six months. 263. A week in each six months ? —Yes. 264. Then that would make about fourteen weeks a year that you go back ?—No, one week in six months in addition to the three weeks each half year. 265. I see. That is eight weeks in the year ?—Yes. 266. What hours do they work when they go back ?—From 5.30 to 7.30—tw0 hours. 267. (To Mr. McMillan.) I would like to put the same question to you that I put to Mr. Stark : whether there has been any sign of any friction so far under the law as it stands now ?—No. 268. (To Mr. Portman.) You can give the same answer ?—Yes. 269. Mr. Fisher (to Mr. Stark).] Are you aware of a circular letter being sent from any head offices in any centre to their branch firms, saying that if the law is so framed that they must pay overtime, they will deduct all the sick-pay and stop the leave which they are granting now ?—No, I am not aware of any such circular. 270. Mr. Laurenson (to Mr. McMillan).] You want to be exempt from all the clauses of this Act ?— Yes, we want to be put on the same footing as departmental hands. They are entirely exempt under the Act. 271. Are you aware of the fact that there is a great deal of overtime done in banks ?—I believe that is so, but we cannot speak with authority about the banks or the hardware places. 272. You only represent the ?—Dunedin soft-goods-warehouse clerks. 273. The Chairman (to Mr. Stark).] How many soft-goods warehouses are there in Dunedin ? — There are just the four wholesale houses. 274. Mr. Aitken.] Are Jamieson's included in it ?—They are not members of the Warehousemen's Association. 275. The Chairman.] There are not a number of small warehouses ? —There are a number of indentors, but you can scarcely call them warehousemen. 276. So that practically you represent the whole of the soft-goods people ?—Yes.

Friday, 14th July, 1905. A deputation from the New Zealand Employers' Federation representing the Otago Branch of the Retailers' Association attended the Committee. Henry Field, Secretary of the New Zealand Employers' Association, examined. 1. The Chairman.] You appear on behalf of the Otago retailers ?—Yes. We have been desired by the Otago Retailers' Association, which has had a meeting to consider this question, to present to you the views of that body. At the meeting I understand there were representatives of all the various branches of the retail trade, and the views to be put before you represent those held by the branches in the district of Otago. Thomas Wardell examined. (No. 89.) 2. The Chairman.] You represent the association ? —Yes. 3. Just make your statement, please ?—As Mr. Field has stated, it devolves upon us to place before the Committee the views of the Otago Retailers' Association, who are members of the New Zealand Federation. Some two or three months ago, before this amended Bill came down, they met to con-