COMPULSORY CLOSING

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 14, 17 July 1923, Page 8

COMPULSORY CLOSING

SMALL GROCERS AFFECTED.

Tho most important clause in the new Grocers' Assistants' Award now filed by the Arbitration Court is one Brovidine for the compulsory oloeinj; of all grocers' shops, irrespective of whether assistants are there employed or not, at specified hours, 5.30 p.m. on four days of the week, 8.30 on one day, and 1 D.m. on the statuory half holfday, and though this new clause will not affect the hours to be worked by assistants it means that small grocery establishments must close, with the larger shops, the Court having acted under the special powers given it under the Shops . and Offices Act, providing for the laying down of certain conditions right through an industry whether or not all the shops concerned are bound by. an award in the ordinary sense.' To the existing wages schedule has been added a new rate of £4 5s per week to assistants of 23 years of- age, with not less than 6even years' experience iij the trade, the ordinary adult wage remaining at £4 -2s 6d, and the proportion of juniors has been altered to one youth and one juuipr to the first three men employed, or fraction of three, one additional youth or one junior to the next two men and thereafter one youth or junior for every three men. engaged, whereas the existing award provides for the employment of one junior or youth to every three men employed. . A provision in the old award prohibiting the employment of youths under the age of 18 as drivers has now been amended in the direction of permittins; the employment of youths between 16 and 18 years outside a radius of 30 miles from, the Wellington G.P.0.. and the holiday clause provides that Easter Saturday need hot necessarily be observed outside the 30 mile radius. The reason-for the award covering so wide'a district, is that it incorporates the old Wellington 30 miles radius district, and also the country district. It becomes operative on 23rd July and will remain m force for two years.