THE SHOP HOURS BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 184, 6 August 1890, Page 2

THE SHOP HOURS BILL.

(To tho Editor.)

Sib,—l have been surprised that you have not befOrfe now called attention to the nature of the Shop Hours Bill now in committee in the House. You, 1 take it, are supposed to represent the interests of all classes of the community, and there.are lots of small shopkeepers who know nothing of this Bill before the House, although it will if passed take the bread nut.of their mouths. The amended clauses of the Shop Hours Bill propose to make it compulsory to shut up one day in the week at two o'clock, four days at six o'clock, and ono day at nine o'clock. And this for every shopkeeper, while publicans, tobacconists, fruiterers and ohe or two other spfioial trades will be allowed to keep open. The proposed law will take care that a man may get his beer, tobacco, or newspaper or a bit of smoked fish, but if he happens to want a loaf or a piece of cheese, Dr a pair of Bocks, if he happens to come home wetfooted, he must wait till next mormn<_. This is making a diatiuctiOn without a difference with a vengeance, and where such legislation will end nobody know?. One result is quite certain, that many of our small traders who arC just able to keep going will find theU. occupations gone, and will have to seek employment elsewhere, and the bill, "This shop to let," of which we already have too many in Auckland, will be displayed more frequently, property owners suffering as well as tenants. I can understand the hours of labour being regulated by far as regard, employees, but to compel _"man Who keeps none, andlivesonfchepremises.toshut

up his shop at the time when be does the greater part of his business, is a cruel attempt to crush out a large and hard-work-ing part of the community. I cannot see how it can be in the interests of the working man to Bhut up the shops of a class who many a time have helped to tide him over a hard time till the next job cam. on. 1 understand this compulsory scheme has been tried in Australia, and found to act most detrimentally to suburban districts. By inserting this you will much oblige A Small Tradkr.