SHOP ASSISTANTS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 7, 3 October 1927, Page 6

SHOP ASSISTANTS

HOURS OF CLOSING

RATES OF WAGES

The award for the New Zealand Retail Shop Assistants has been filed iu the Arbitration Court.

In a memorandum Air. Justice Frazer states: “The Court has settled the clauses relating to interpretation, classification, wages, porters, hours of employment, closing hours, scope of award, and term of award. Air. Alotiteith desires to record the following dissenting opinion; ‘I sm of the opinion that the closing hour in Dunedin and Wellington should have been 1'2.15 p.m on Saturdays, making it the same as Auckland, where 1'2.15 p.m. has operated for the past two years without complaint. I dissent from the wages awarded and wish to particularly stress the junior rates. Many of these rates have only increased ‘25 to 33 per cent, since the first award was made in 1912, and some of these rates show no increase since 1921, six years ago/ ” In regard to closing hours the award states: “In exercise of the powers vested in the Court by section 69 of the Shops and Offices Act, 1921-2'2, it is ordered that ill shops carrying on any of the businesses covered by this award within the undermentioned areas shall be closed at the hours herein specified: Within a radius of ten miles of the Chief Post Office in the City of /Auckland : On four days of the week at 5.30 p.m., on one day of the week at 12.15 p.m., and on one day of the week at 9 p.m Within a radius of ten miles of each of the Chief Post Offices in the cities of Wellington and Dunedin respectively: On four days of the week at 5.30 p.m., on one day of the week at 12.30 p.m., and on one day of the wee< at 9 p.m.; and outside the radii above-mentioned (except for the town of Rotorua) on four days of the week at 6 p.m., on one day of the week at 12.30 p.m., and on one day of the week at 9 p.m. Provided that in the case of shops observing the statutory halfholiday on a day other than Saturday the hour for closing on the half-day shall be 12 noon instead of 1'2.15 p.m. or 12.30 p.m., as the case may be. This sub-clause shall be read subject to the provisions of section 3 (2) of the Shops and Offices Act, 19'21-22. All the shops (except in the town of Rotorua) shall be closed from the hour of 7 a.m. on each of the days prescribed by this award as holidays (including, days lawfully observed as holidays in lieu of anv prescribed). Exemptions granted under the last expired award shall continue in force as if granted under the provisions of this award.”. A forty-eight hour week is provided for, and all time worked in excess is to be paid for at the rate of Is. 3d. per hour.

Weekly minimum rates of wages are fixed as follows (rates for females being given in parentheses) Under 15 years of age 12s. 6d. (10s.), 15 years of age and under 16 years 17s. 6d. (155.), 16 years of age and under 17 years £1 I'2 6d. (£1), 17 years of age and under 18 years £1 10s. (£1 55.), 18 years of age and under 19 years £2 2s. 6d. (£1 10s.), 19 vears of age and under 20 years £2 15s. (£1 13s'.), 20 years of age and under 21 years £3 ss. (£1 165.), 21 years of age and under 22 years £4 (£2), 22 vears cf age and under 23 years £4 ss. (£'2 7s. 6d.). 23 vears of age and over £4 15s. (£2 12s. 6d.). Provision is made for juniors, when vwirking under certain conditions. The term of the award is two years as from October 17, 1927.