WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1054, 18 February 1911, Page 7

WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

AN ERRONEOUS SUPPOSITION,

A point of some interest cropped up yesterday in connection -with tho Saturday half-holiday petition which is being circulated by tho Trades Council, with a view to securing that a poll of tlio electors in tho local district shall bo taken upon tho question as to whether or no Saturday shall b'e the statutory half-lioliday within its boundaries. ... •Speaking to a reporter yesterday,.Mr. F. ltoyling (secretary to tho Trhdcs Council) stated that .in the event of a poll being taken and a majority of votes being cast in favour of Wednesday, shopkeepers who now closo their establishments on Saturday afternoon would be compelled, in common with tho "rest of their kind, to revert to tho observance of Wednesday.

Inquiry at tho Labour Department and refer.onco.to tho Shops and Offices Act disclosed.tho fact that Mr. Reyling was astray in his contention. In supporting 'it ho' relied upon Section 17, Clause ,11, of. tho Act, which provides that after a poll has been taken and a half-hcliday appointed, "On and after tho first day of Juno following , tho gazetting of any such appointment, the day. so appointed shall be tho. statutory closing-day for tho district, in respect of which such appointment is made, and shall continuo to be tlio statutory clos-ing-day for that district' until another day is.appointed, in accordanco with tho foregoing provisions of this section." In conversation with a . Dominion reporter, Mr. Royling held that this clauso was complete in itself, and mandatory as it reads. " Tho, Labour Department officials who ■werp questioned, pointed out that the latter' part of' Clause 2, Section 11, of the Shops and Offices Act, is of'general application, and covers tho appointment of tho statutory half-holiday, whether it bo appointed by a poll of ratepayers or by a conference of local body delegates. i Tlio clause in question runs: "Provided that in tho event of any day other than Saturday being appointed as the statutory closing day, then any occupier , shall bo entitled to close liis shop on Saturday in lion thereof on giving to the inspector notice in writing of his de'siro so to do."

Tho position, therefore, is simply that in .whatever'manner a day other than Saturday is appointed as tho statutory half-holiday, a shopkeeper is at liberty to closo his establishment on Saturday and keep it opsn en tho statutory halfholiday.