SHOPS TO CLOSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 271, 15 November 1935, Page 12

SHOPS TO CLOSE.

ELECTION DAY LAW.

HALF-HOLIDAY PROVISION.

TIME OFF FROM FACTORIES. A half-holiday will be observed by shope on election day, but factories are not obliged to close. Every employeo of a factory, however, must bo allowed reasonable time, not exceeding an hour, in which to vote. It is set out in Section 128 of the Electoral Act, 1927, that every day on which an election takes place is deemed to be a public holiday after mid-day, and it shall not be lawful to sell intoxicating liquors in any licensed premises between the hours of 12 o'clock noon and seven in the evening. The Act also provides that where the polling day et any election is other than that appointed as the weekly half-holiday under the Shope and Offices Act, 1921-22, the provisions of that Act relating to the weekly half-holiday shall be deemed to refer to the polling day in lieu of the day eo appointed, and it shall not be necessary for any employer to observe the day so appointed in the week in which the polling day falls. It will not be necessary for any factory to close during any working hours on the polling day, but the occupier of the factory shall afford to each of his employees a reasonable opportunity of recording Ms vote, and no deduction shall be made from the wages of any such employee in respect of the time occupied in so recording his vote, provided that such time does not exceed one working hour. Every person who commits any offence against this section will be liable to a fine of £5. Factory occupiers ate thus required merely to give their employees reasonable time to record their votes, but not exceeding one working hour, without deduction from their wages. The occupierfl of ehops must, however, observe the usual weekly half-holiday in this week upon polling day. In the case of those shops which are not required to observe the statutory closing day, that is, fishmongers, fruiterers, confectioners, florists, dairy produce sellers and bakers, the assistants must be given their half-holiday on polling day.