SHOPS AND OFFICES BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 250, 19 October 1904, Page 10

SHOPS AND OFFICES BILL.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In your leader of Saturday, 15th instant, you say "We --tirery approve of rhc clause which prohibits the employment of women and girls after six o'clock on four days of the week, and after eight o'clock 0:1 the fifth." 1 am much afraid very few of the public, and may I include the prei.;, realise the far-reaching effect of the latter part of the clause re late night—which in most cases is Saturday, as so many trades are exempted, as bakers, c.ifi'eebousekeepers. and barmaids, -o that the Act. will apply chiefly to female assistv ants of fancy goods dealers, stationers, drapers, and the like. I should have thought the reverse would have been more sensible, but what hum'ug to specially exclude thos-e most needing protection. The facts are these, Mr Editor: On a Saturday the working class enjoy their half holiday in their own way. then return to tea, and after sundry domestic duties go out shopping from 7t09 or 9.30. If this oL-iu.-sp is supposed to be in the interests -of female assistants, I fear it will prove a great mistake—it may result in some of the female assistants being (-.hanged for males. But why these fussy restrictions—if the maximum hours of labour are to be 52, should not that be sufficient? I sincerely hope this part of the clause will be deleted. — ■ am, etc., DRAPER.