SHOP CLOSING HOURS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 252, 23 October 1919, Page 7

SHOP CLOSING HOURS.

I . . DEPUTATION TO PREMIER. (By Telegraph.—iFress Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Itepresentatives of the shop assistants of the Dominion interviewed the Prime ! Minister to-day, and asked for amendi mente to the Shops and Offices Act. The deputation urged that a bill 'be introduced to provide for a 44-hour week and for shops to close at 5.30 p.m. on five days of the week and at noon on ! the sixth day: also that Easter Saturday be declared a. statutory half-holiday and Saturday a universal half-holiday. I The speakers levelled strong criticism lat the administration of the seating and I heating regulations, one member of the deputation complaining that thp Liabour , ■ Department had failed absolutely to ' ' enforce them. ' Mr. Massey, replying, said it would not be possible to make the amendment | j asked for this session, as all concerned I could not be heard in time before the [Labour Bills Committee, but he would , j try this session to have an amendment ', jof the Act to give power to the Arbitra- . f tion Court n"t only to fix hours, but also , ' the closing hours of shops. Parliament 'must meet early next year, and then the J ! whole Act could be gone into. l|