SHOP HOURS

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 280, 7 August 1909, Page 5

SHOP HOURS

BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S BILL'.' ' ' (By Telegraph.—Prcsß ABsoclttUon.-OoDyrleht.l ! , , London, August" 6. ' > Mr, Gladstono, Homo Secretary, has introduced into tho Houso of Commons a Shops Bill, fixing tJio maximum hours of shop 06-' aidants at sixty per week. Employment after eight o'clock is to ho allowed only on throo days a week. The Bill provides for compulsory Sunday closing and for a weekly half-holiday. It fa; not intended to pass tho measure during tho prascnt session. ASSISTANTS' CONDITIONS. Tho sixty hours week wis Iho feature of a Shop Hours Bill, introduced by Sir Chos. Dilko, while a Sunday Closing of Shops Bill has been promoted by Lord Avcbury in tho House of Lords. Dealing with .these and' similar: private* Bills, tho Homo Sooretarv (Mr. Gladstone) promised the measure which is now brought down tor its preliminary canter only, When, Sir Chas. Dilko's-Bill was before the Houso' of Commons, Mr. W. C\ Steadman (Labour) said; "I support this Bill for the ' sake of the shop assistants, who are being slowly murdered. I had to work as an errand boy at tho a'ge of ten. Afterwards I synod bohiud tho bar of a public-house for,"long hours a day. How do you .expect our young men and women can bo properly educated and become proper citizons under these conditions of: long hours? I am the father of foui daughters myself; nnd those who are 1 not'.too wealthy have to look out. for some honest employment for their girls. In many Bhops the hours aro too long for any,girl:..to be employed."