SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 275, 17 November 1904, Page 2

SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT.

CHAMBER OF (X)MM_RCE MEETING. A special' meeting of the Council at , the Auckland CinaoiDer of Commerce was held this, afternoon for the purpose ot considering the _iiop_ and Unices Act. Mr J. ileid presided, and there were also present; Jktssrs B. Kent, Graves Aickih, Al. M. McCaHum, A. H. [Nathan, j"." jrl. Upton, M. A. Clark, L. J. Bagnall, and J. B. Macfarlane. i The chaii_i_n said that as many interested in the new Act were members of the Chamber. or of the mercantile community, whose interests they desir ed to safeguard, and the meeting was 1 called to consider if any good could I follow the passage of a resolution on i the subject. He had prepared no moI tion on the question, and perhaps the matter might be deferred ior the gen eral quarterly meeting on the 30tu inst. He pointed out that the Chamber did not desire to introduce the political element into the discussion. Mr A. H. [Nathan .said that the Act having been passed it was somewhat late in the .day to consider it. No alteration couid be made till next session, and it was altogether wrong that any Act passed by Parliament should be abrogated. Possibly some good would follow a protest or a way out of the difficulty might he found, as the Premier suggested, by the Solicitor-Gener-al. The smaii traders were most affected, and a protest should be made since almost everybody agreed that the law was too drastic. The ciiair_an said that the Chamber found that the bill was being considered by the various trades interested. The warehousemen's employees had stated their views on the bill, and other trades had done the same thing. However, various amendments had been made by the Legislative Council, the effect oi which was' Dot altogether known. Mr B. Kjnt expressed regret that the Chambs* had not given a lead in the matter instead of following the individual trades. Had they done so other Chambers would have followed suit, and the position might have been altered. He was sure that the Government was anxious to do nothing that would tend to the injury of the country. If the Chamber gave the people a strong rnough lead, the Premier would take rction which would stay the hands of the inspectors until the law could be amended. He could not uiderstand why members, who he admitted were capab'e men, hal not kept their s in the various trades affected, posted in what wa? going on when such legislation was in progress. Mr Aickin pointed out that the cause had only b-'en mo ,_ ed in the Legislative Council on th" 4th inst., and .the House rose four days later. UtidT the circumstances it was n->t ble for members to acquaint their constituents w'th what was proposed. The City members objected strongly to this clause, but after a second crnferenc? it was agrepd to on f c last day of the session. The managers of the Lower House at the conference were most'y country representatives, and somehow the rights of the city shopkeepers were overlooked.