SHUTTING UP SHOP DISRESPECTFUL VIEW OF NEW BRITISH BILL

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28160, 26 December 1956, Page 6

SHUTTING UP SHOP DISRESPECTFUL VIEW OF NEW BRITISH BILL

[By GEORGE SCHWARTZ, in the “Sunday Times”] (Reprinted by Arrangement)

When I solaced you recently with the conjecture that the roast chestnut vendor would provide a particular cheer in the coming winter, I undoubtedly sensed that early snow was on the way, and, sure enough, before the end of the week much of the country was under a mantle of white. However, I must not preen myself overmuch, because I failed to check my supposition against the terms of the new Shops Bill. This codifying measure, I find, extends the restrictions on shopping hours to other forms of retail trading, including, I assume, the itinerant as well as the stationary barrow or booth. I have studied the bill to discover whether the chestnut vendor will have to dowse his coke whenever the shops statutorily put up their shutters, but I got lost in the maze of clauses and schedules. I could have inquired in the proper quarters, but this is hardly the moment to approach Ministers on a question of pulling chestnuts out of the fire. All Stagger Together It is ironical that this Shops Bill, which imposes a still more rigid and comprehensive uniformity on trading hours, should appear just as Ministers are desperately urging the public to stagger its hours and break the stereotyped pattern of its travelling habits. Having largely created the rush hour the State adjures everyone to avoid it. I have argued repeatedly that shophour legislation not required to protect shop assistants from so-called exploitation. The working conditions in shops are determined by the general economic situation of the country, and they must conform to it. If the economy permits a 45-hour week for employees over industry at large, then no branch of activity can depart widely from that standard. Shops could keep open all round the clock, as some restaurants and steel works do but no employee could be dragooned into accepting worse conditions than were on offer in alternative employments outside. The new bill makes the general closing hour 7 p.m. (8 p.m’. on one day each week) instead of 8 p.m. (9 p.m. on the late day) under the existing law. I would have you notice that there is no prescription about the time of opening in the morning. How is it that brutal employers do not take advantage of this and make the bulk of the assistants report at 6 a.m.? Why cannot a shop be free to choose its hours of opening and closing, in accordance with its judgment of business opportunities? Undoubtedly a large measure of uniformity would still obtain in shopping hours, but it would impose itself by the operations of a free market, without any need for legislative action. However, these issues are decided by politicians who earn a handsome fee on the radio or television by arguing at 9.30 p.m. that no shopkeeper should be allowed to earn money after 7 p.m. Dragooning the Customer

If there is any dragooning in these shopping-hour regulations, it is of the customer, and I find it comic to study the few concessions made to the person who wants something after 7 p.m. or in the afternoon of early closing day. I can understand why nursing homes have to keep open day and night for the reception of overwrought. Ministers.

For the Permanent Secretary has to call up the Minister at 3 a.m. “Sorry to trouble you again, Minister, at this unearthly hour, but it’s this final draft of the Shops Bill. The printers must run it off in the morning, and there’s a last-minute snag. Schedule A. Transactions permissible after regulation hours. You know—fried fish, potato chips, cooked tripe, newspapers, ice-cream and so on. My information is that the Lancashne Members are bridling at the noninclusion of cow-heel in the list. There was a private meeting after the House rose, and they’re going to raise Cain on the Seconcf Reading. ”

“Cow-heel! What’s the particular virtu? in that?’’ “Well, I understand it’s the workers’ calf’s-foot jelly in the cotton towns. Good for expectant mothers, I believe. I had a word with Jones of the Ministry of Health, and he says it’s a must north of the Trent.” Desert Island Discs “Can’t we say it’s subsumed undei cooked tripe?” “Fraid not. It would have to be more explicit that that.” “Well, stick in ‘and contiguous products’ after tripe.” “I thought ol that, sir, but contiguous won’t stretch to cow-heel. I got on to the College of Surgeons but they wouldn’t hear

of it. The fellow’ was a bit ribau about it.” lo ’ !l1 "Then we'll take a chance on u as it stands.” u “As you please. Minister, but if you remember there is a by-electinn pending in Heywood and Roytcn’* “Great Scott, yes. Oh. give the hoof, fetlock and all. Throw 2 the horns and the tail feathers if yji like, but for heaven’s sake let me c.i back to bed.”

Is it surprising that sooner nr later the doctor tells a distraught spouse, ’Pack up his eight favourite gramophone records and get him out of the country. Tierra del Fuein Tristan da Cunha, or any one of th» Tapioca Islands. I leave that to you. but take him away.”