SHOPS AND OFFICES

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 68, 17 September 1927, Page 9

SHOPS AND OFFICES

AMENDMENTS TO BILL

If satisfied that, for tho purposes of fair competition, it is expedient to fix tho closing hours of shops in. areas outside those covered by an award the Arbitration Court may do so, according to an ' amendment made to the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill by tho Local Bills Committee. If passed as amended, tho measure will come into operation on lstv November this year. Under the terms of another amendment, it is provided that local authorities may in any special case apply to the Minister, so that in any particular week a dp.y other than the statutory closing day may bo observed as a halfholida,y. Eetailers of motor spirits and oils aro granted similar/exemptions to those onjoyed by tobacconists and certain others, and need not close thoir premises for a half-holiday on any day of a week. Special provisions arc made, as to the salo of smokers' requisites by persons other than tobacconists. "When a requisition has been Bigned by not less than two-thirds of tho tobacconists in | any district, and the nocessary formal stops have been taken, all the other shops selling tobacco shall obsorvo tobacconists' hours. When tho requisition has been gazetted all shopkeepers selling tobacco shall notify tho inspector. Hotels and private hotels and boarding-houses are oxompted from these provisions. Several amendments refer to fruiterers' shops, each of which must be registered in the name of ono proprietor as tho occupier. This applies in all fruit shops where two persons are engaged, whether as assistants or not. All persons other than tho husband or wifo of a registered occupier shall bo deemed to bo assistants. if requested by tho inspector, the registered occupier of a fruit shop must post up in a conspicuous place a time-table in English showing tho working hours of each assistant, and no assistant shall bo employed other than the hours mentioned. If any alteration is made tho inspector must be notified. All specific references to Asiatics havo been deleted from tho Bill. Two-amendments refer to meals for' shop assistants. Whero thero aro more than five women employed tho occupier of the shop shall provide a suitable dining-room and cloakroom if tho womon cannot reasonably obtain moals at homo within the timo at their disposal. No allowance for a meal need bo paid to a male assistant who has worked an hour more than usual if ho can go homo for a'meal without locomotion expenses within tho timo at his disposal A further amendment makes it lawful for an assistant to bo employed for nttoen minutes after closing timo if ongaged in serving a customer, or in duties arising therefore, or if balancing cash. °