AGAIN UNDER FIRE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 85, 9 April 1924, Page 6

AGAIN UNDER FIRE

TRADERS ATTACK ARBITRATION

COURT

SHOP ASSISTANTS' AWARD.

' Within the last two years the Court of Arbitration has been subjected to a good deal of hostile criticism, but mostly from organisations affiliated with the Alliance of Labour. Some employers, however, are now finding fault with the Court, and at last night's meeting of combined traders of Wellington the Court's action in fixing the closing hour on the late night at 8.30 o'clock was severely condemned. The following resolution was passed :— That this representative meeting of Wellington retailers record an emphatic protest against the unwarranted action of the Arbitration Court in fixing 8.30 o'clock as the closing hour on the late night in the recent retail shop assistants' award, and, by so doing, arrogating to itself legislative powers and violating the expressed policy of the Court laid down in two previous judgments. The award, which comes into force on Hth April, is a Dominion one, with the exception of Canterbury, and provides that all shops carrying on any of the businesses covered by the award shall be closed at the following specified hours: Within a radius of 10 miles of the chief post offices of each of the cities" of Auckland, Wellington, and Dimedin, on four days of the week at 5.30 p.m., on one day at 1 p.m. and one aay at 8.30 p.m. Outside these radii, on four days of the week at 6 p.m., one day at 1 p.m., and on one day at 8.30 p.m. The prescribed holidays in the Welhngtan industrial district are: Christmas l-"ay, Boxing Day, New. Year's Day, 2nd January, Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Monday, Anniversary Day, -Labour Day, Sovereign's Birthday, and Anzac Day, and on those days all shops r.re to be closed from 7 a.m., including days lawfully observed in lieu of holi° days. The clause to this effect is to be read subject to, the provisions of section 3 (2) of the Shops and Offices Act, in which it, is laid down that- employees may bo employed until 10 p.m. on one of'the six days immediately preceding Christmas, and on one day between Christmas Day and 'New Year's Day, and that the occupier may keep his shop open accordingly. ■ ■ ■ The provisions of the new award shall apply only to soft goods, boot and shoe, fancy goods, hardware, crockery, and books and stationery1 trades. . The closing hours and the holidays as set out in the award will app.ly to all shops in the trades governed by the award; whether there are any employees oi-not, and throughout the whole industrial district of- Wellington.