SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12461, 26 March 1906, Page 4

SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT.

i (nESS ASSOCIATION TZLBGKAH.) AUCKLAND. March 24. The first casee brought under the early closing clauses of the Shops end Offices Act, 1904, were heard at the Police Court to-day, when A. J. S. Lamb and Walter Dawson, chemists, were charged with having failed to close their shops in the evening at the hour fixed for the closing of such chops. The charges were brought under section 21 of the Act, which provides that on, a requisition of a two-thirds majority of any particular trade petitioning for the fixing of the closing hour, the local authority shall fix the hour accordingly. Lamb pldaded "Guilty," and Daweon, who did not appear, was adjudged' guilty on the evidence of the Assistant Inspector of Factori«s. His Worship pointed out that the defendants were each liable to a fine of £10, but these being the first charges of the kind in Auckland, he would not inflict a heavy penalty. In future, however, he would, impose a substantial fine. • In deed, it was not so much an offence against the public as against those chemists who complied with, the law, an advantage thus being taken of them. In each case a fine or £1," with costs amounting to 28s, was imposed.