A NEW POINT. PETONE AND LOWER HUTT MAY BE AFFECTED.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 127, 25 November 1904, Page 5

A NEW POINT. PETONE AND LOWER HUTT MAY BE AFFECTED.

A further point was raised by Mr. Skerrett during argument in the test case to-.-day, as to the position of the Boroughs of Petone and Lower Hutt, under tha "within one mile of each other" provision, lhe five districts admitted to be affected under this provision include the Johnsonville Town District. It is thought that tne Korokoro section of Petone Borough is within a mile of tho Johnson, ville boundary, and that therefore Po. tone, and consequently the adjoining borough of Lower Hutt, come in under thia provision. After some argument, Mr, Findlay, od behalf of the Labour Departraent, said the matter did not affect th» legal argument, but the Department tfould ascertain whether* Petone was within a mile of Johnsonville, and, if it was found to be, there was no objection to including Petone and Lower Hutt in the admissions as affected by the "combined districts" provision. We aw informed " that at tf large 'andi exceedingly representative meeting of drapers, clothiers, mercers, and natters, held at Godber's Rooms last evening, itwas resolved "That all present at this meeting decide to observe the law in tho matter of early closing pending decision in the test cases by the Stipendiary Magistrate." It was decided to communicate to the Premier tho meeting's. hearty approval of Clause 3 of 'the new Act, aa jipplied to the drapery trade. There -was, it is stated, considerable discussion- regarding the lack of interest taken in tho Act by shop assistants, and it was pointed, out that there Mas a possibility of their present privileges being curtailed' if the Act became inoperative.