THE SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22345, 8 March 1938, Page 12

THE SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT

AMENDMENTS TO BE SHELVED AGITATION TO RESTRICT SUBURBAN TRADING HOURS OF FEMALE WORKERS .§ IX TEAROOMS Legislation making far-reaching amendments to the Shops and Offices Act, drafted some time ago by the Minister for Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) is unlikely to be introduced to Parliament during the life of the present House. This was indicated to "The Press" last evening by Mr Armstrong. "Nothing will be done with the amendments to the act this session; and whether or not the bill will be introduced during the session before Parliament is prorogued I do not know yet," he said. "I did prepare legislation a long time ago, but that is as far as the matter has gone and the Government has some very big issues to deal with this year."' Most of the agitation for amendments to the act came from tobacconists and the big city,shopkeepers, who wanted the mixed shops in the suburbs brought into line with the shopping hours fixed for the city areas, said the Minister, in reply to a question. However, the interests of the small, suburban shopkeepers could not be lost sight of, Mr Armstrong said. They had to be given consideration, as many of them, although in business to earn their own livings, were public benefactors. Of the demands by tearoom proprietors for an extension of the hour from 10.30 p.m. to which females may be employed, he had heard little .lately, said the Minister. After all, their grievance on that score was 20 years old, as the hour had been introduced in an old Shops and Offices Act. "Before the hour can be extended beyond 10.30 p.m., some more satisfactory arrangement must be arrived at in regard to the eight-hour spread of work for the girls," said Mr Armstrong. Employers—not all, he explained—brought the girls on at 9 a.m. .and by signing them off for hour breaks, could spread their eight-hour day up till 10.30 p.m., and the time 'off was of little use to the workers.