WORK AND WAGES.

Evening Star, Issue 14633, 1 August 1911, Page 2

WORK AND WAGES.

Mr Riddell, S.M., in giving judgment at Wellington yesterday in a case in which a draper was charged with having employed a shop assistant after 9 -o’clock on one night during the week, said that under the Act of 1894 a- shopkeeper could transact new business in tho half-hour allowed after closing time, but the later Acts seemed to show that the half-hour was intended to allow the completion of businesscommenced before closing, or for doing other necessary work in connection with goods then purchased or generally performed in every shop at c-r just after fleeing time. But if while such neceosary w<rk was going or. another customer catered after closing time and was tv-rvod, an oficnco was committed under tho Act. The defendant was convicted and lined Is, and costs were fixed on a scale to permit of an appeal. A grocer was charged with employing a. carter fur more than nine hours on more than one day during tlie week ended June 24. it was admitted that an assistant worked hours cn Monday and 11 hours on Saturday, but a. holiday occurred during that week, and the ae.ristant’s total weekly time was only 4hours. It was also pointed out that tho defendant paid hi* shop assistants 10s more than tho award rate, but Mr Riddell said that was a purely voluntary act on his port. Defendant was convicted and fined Is.