SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 130, 29 November 1904, Page 6

SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT.

YESTERDAY'S JUDGMENT. DR. A. M'ARTHUR'S DECISION TO BE APPEALED AGAINST. FURTHER PROCEEDINGS CONTEMPLATED. The Labour Department, which is administering the new Act, has decided to appeal against the decision of Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., in the case brought against a Newtown shopkeeper, to test the question of the operation of the Act before the gazetting of the " combined districts." The Department will also bring another case as soon as the districts are gazetted, so that the provisions of the new law may be tested to their fullest extent. The boundaries of the combined districts have now been defined, and they will be gazetted this week. The Department has received a petition from the majority of the shopkeepers of Greytown North, certified to by the local authority, praying that the operation of the Act may be extended to the town, the shops affected desiring to close at 6 p.m. on four days in the week, 9 o'clock on Saturdays, and 1 p.m.' on the statutory half-holiday. The petition from forty-one shopkeepers of Petone praying that the provisions of the Shops and Offices Act be not applied to Petone was before the Boreugh Council last night. Doubts arose as to what should be done with the petition, which was addressed to the Minister for Labour. The Town Clerk stated that he had written to the Labour Department asking for full information. After discussion the Clerk was instructed, if enquiries warranted him in doing so, to certify that the signatures were those of persons representing a majority of tho shopkeepers of Petone, a,nd to return the petition to the prime movers in the matter. [BT TELKORAPH — PRESS 'ASSOCIATION.] NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day. The Traders and Employers' Association resolved last night : "That the Shops and Offiros Act is ot a vexatious character, and subversive of the best interests of tradespeople; that a protest be made against legislation of this kind : and thai, steps shoulu be taken by Parliament to repeal the obnoxious clauses."