APPEAL RIGHT REFUSED

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28985, 28 August 1959, Page 12

APPEAL RIGHT REFUSED

Opposition Move

Fails

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 27.

An attempt by the Opposition to have written into the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill the right of appeal to the Arbitration Court against any decision of the Shops and Offices Exemptions Tribunal was defeated after a division in the House of Representatives this afternoon.

The right-of-appeal amendment, moved by Mr W. A. Sheat (Opposition, Egmont), was rejected by 37 votes to 36. The bill provides for a separate tribunal (of one person) to consider applications for exemption from the provision of the Shops and Offices Act, 1955, or of awards, relating to closing of shops. One clause says there will be no appeal from any decision of the tribunal. This the Opposition sought to change. Mr Sheat said there was a strong case for the right of appeal. There could be some danger of the tribunal rejecting applications wholesale, and some safeguard against that was desirable.

The Minister of Labour (Mr Hackett )said that after a trial period of 12 months, if he felt the right of appeal was necessary, he would be “big enough” to alter the act. Mr Hackett said the bill aimed to get consistency in decisions.

After the House divided, the bill continued through the committee, the Minister introducing a further amendment, which was not opposed, permitting the sale of parts or accessories that are urgently and necessarily required for the functioning of machinery or implements used for farming, in addition to the sale of motor spirits and motor accessories.