SUNDAY CLOSING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 150, 19 March 1908, Page 7

SUNDAY CLOSING.

CONDITIONS IN SHOPS. BILL READ A SECOND TIME. BY TELEGRAM—PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT. (Rec. March 18, 11.14 p.m.) ' London, March 18. In tho Houso of Lords, Lord Avebury's Sunday Closing of' Shops Bill was read a second time, after its author had promised to consider amendments to meet tho case of 'Jews. ■ EFFORTS TO RESTRICT HOURS. The Eight Hon. • Lord Avebury (Sir John Lubbock),. banker, scientist, litterateur, and educationalist, among his many other activities, has. worked for many years for shorter hours of labour, especially in shops. Ho also " won bank holidays for the people." In the Houso of Commons on May 1, 1907, Mr. Shackleton succoed jd in getting a resolution passed that /'more drastic legislation with regard, to the closing of shops and the hours of shop assistants is required/' , Mr.. Gladstone said that ■ ' the working of tho Act of 1901 had certainly not: been satisfactory. The total number of closing orders under that Act for England and Wales was only 112. They 'affected 9000' shops, and perhaps 15,000 persons, out of .a'possible 800,000. Of the 112 orders, 92 affacted' one'trade only, l and 1 there were only 20 which concerned more than one trade. In districts where the Act was most seriously needed it had been practically inoperative. It had been practically inoperative in London and in many 1 large t towns. He admitted that a case for amending tho Act had been made out, but 'he eould -not commit himself to Iho data when that could bo done.