THE HOLIDAYS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 150, 22 December 1938, Page 10

THE HOLIDAYS

CLOSING OF SHOPS

WHEN THEY OPEN AGAIN

When the shops close and when they open again is of no small moment to the person whose job it is to look after the well-being of the household. On this occasion, with Christmas Day and New Year's Day falling on Sundays, the position is apt to be a little confusing. In general most shops will be closing at 12 noon on Saturday, December 24, for the Christmas holidays and 12 noon on Saturday, December 31, for the New Year holidays, and will not be reopening until Wednesday, December 28, and Wednesday, January 4, respectively.

The closing times and holidays to be observed by the butchers, bakers, and grocers are, perhaps, of most importance. After Saturday, bread will not be delivered until the following Wednesday, both in the case of the Christmas and New Year holidays. Butchers', pork butchers', and grocers' shops will be closed as from 12 noon on Saturday until Wednesday, December 28, though some butchers' and pork butchers' shops may remain open on Saturday later than noon.

; The late shopping night this week will be tomorrow, as usual, but with this difference —shops in the main will be open until 10 p.m. Although grocers" shops may also be kept open after 9 o'clock, if this is done there is a special provision in the grocers' as- | sistants. award which provides for the payment of overtime, and in the suburbs particularly whether the grocers' shops remain open after 9 o'clock will depend on the business offering. This being the position it would appear to be wise to visit the grocers before 9 p.m. The "Mondayising" of Christmas Day /and New Year's Day when they fall on Sundays is authorised under the Public Holidays Act, 1910, as amended by the Public Holidays Amendment Act, 1921, subject to the specific provisions of any Act, award, or industrial agreement binding employers and employees. In effect, this means that so far as the labour laws are concerned Christmas Day is to be observed on Monday, December 26, Boxing Day on Tuesday, December 27, and New Year's Day on Monday, January 2. Where in any award or industrial agreement provision is made for a holiday on "January 2," then this holiday becomes merged with New Year's Day and no additional holiday need be given unless specific provision is made in the award or agreement for the transfer of the holiday to the following day. In a number of awards and agreements provision is made for a holiday "on the day after New Year's Day," and in such cases, New Year's Day being observed on the Monday, an additional holiday must be given on the Tuesday.