SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT

Evening Star, Issue 12647, 30 October 1905, Page 7

SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT

THE NEW PROVISIONS EXPLAINED. [From Our Parliamkotart Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 30. One of the most important Bills dealt with during the session is that relating to shops and offices. During the recess eager , opponents of last year’s measure urged that Parliament should be called together specially to consider the Act that was put through in the dosing hours of 1904, and public meetings were held in most of the chief centres protesting against the iniquity of tbo legislation, which had provoked comment from Auckland to Dunedin. One of the first Bills to bo brought down this session was an amendment to that much-de-bated measure, the Premier haring laid special stress on the fact that his sole detire was to remedy the injustice of last year’s Act. That Bill has now passed into law, after having been ahuttlecockod between the House and the Council for over three months, and it is interesting to define its application. ■, In the first place section 3 of the Act of last session, providing for early closing in the four centres, has been strode out, and new provisions have been made as follows: — Bakers, confectioners, fishmongers, and fruiterers may employ their assistants until 11 p m on one working day, and until 10.50 p.m. on other days Refreshment-room keepers are allowed to keep their assistants at work until 11.45 p.m. <ui all working days. Butchers and dairy-produce sailers may employ their amistants till 6 p.m. on four days, 10 p.iix. on one day, and 1 p.m. on the half-holiday. Florists and news agents may employ their assistants till 8 P.m. on four days, 1 pan. on the half-holiday, and 10 pan. on. one night of the week. Hairdressers and tobacconists must not keep their assistants after 8 p.m. on. four nights, 1 p.m. on tho half-holiday, and 10.50 p.m. on the late night. Chemists are limited! to one o’clock on the half-holiday, 8 p.m. on four nights, and nine o’clock on the late night. On the half-holiday, however, they may employ' their assistants between. 7 and 9 p.m., provided that tho shop is kept open only for the supply of medicines and surgical appliances. Women must not be employed in any shop after 9 p.m. except on Christinas Eve and New Year’s Eve. In regard to all other shops than those mentioned above, tho Act deals with three classes—combined' districts, boroughs having a population of 5,000 or over, and smaller boroughs. In the first two cases the asSBtante may be employed to Bis o’clock on four nights, nine, o’clock on one night, and one o’clock on the half-holiday. In the 11 boroughs, assistants must not bo canployed after 7 pan. on four nights, 9 p.m. on the late night, and 1 p.m. on tbo halfholiday. Shops not included in those menturned above must close at one o’clock on the weekly half-holiday, and in regard to other days the hours are to be fixed by the occupiers themselves. It should also be noted that the wife of an occupier and the members of his family arc not deemed to be ■drop assistants, but tho members of his family must not work more than 52 hours a week, and they must get a weekly half-holi-day. Tbo occupier’s wife can work as long as she likes. If a hairdresser lets his chairs, the hairdresser is still regarded as the employer, and the lessee is stfil regarded as a shop assistant. An amendment has also been made in regard to requisitions for closing hours. Under section 21 of the Act- of last year, a requisition of the majority of any particular shopkeepers in a trade fixed the hours of dosing for that trade. That decision will now bo superseded by tho decision of the shopkeepers generally of the district fixing the hours of closing. Shop assistants may not be employed in any shop before 4 a-m. in the ease of butchers or bakers or milkmen, or before seven in other shops in any case. Shop assistants must have a half-holiday every week. They may not be employed more than 52 hours in any week, subject always to any award of the Arbitration Court. Shop assistants may be employed up to 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve and Now Year’s Eve. Banks, harbor boards, insurance companies, wholesale warehousemen, wool brokers, wool buyers, and auctioneers are exempted from the provisions of tho principal Act relating to hours of employment. In other words, they are not obliged to close at 5 pan.