POWER OF COURT QUESTIONED

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27914, 10 March 1956, Page 2

POWER OF COURT QUESTIONED

OBJECTION TO EXTENSION OF SHOPS’ HOURS (New Zealand Press Association) TIMARU, March 9. The power of the Court was limited to the opening and closing hours of shops and, under the act, the Court was not empowered to add to the number of exempted goods. By an Order-in-Council only could the list of goods be extended and, if the Court allowed a shop to open under the act. the shopkeeper had the right to sell whatever there was in the shop. This was submitted by counsel for an objector when applications for exemptions from the Shops and Offices Act, 1955, were heard in the Timaru Magistrate’s Court this morning. The South Canterbury Grocers’ Association and the unions concerned, and the South Canterbury Fruit Retailers’ Association broadly supported this contention, the Court was told. Mr O. Stevens said that what the Court was seeking to do was to extend the exempted list of goods fixed by Parliament but limit the hours of sale. This could not be done by the Court, he submitted. Mr E. A. Lee, S.M., said that, in view of the diversity of opinion about the power of the Magistrate’s Court, proceedings should be adjourned and heard before the Supreme Court. The applications were adjourned sine die, to be brought on at five days’ notice to enable the stated case to be submitted for hearing by the Supreme Court at its next sitting in Timaru.