SHOPS AND OFFICES BILL

Evening Star, Issue 22350, 28 May 1936, Page 2

SHOPS AND OFFICES BILL

MINISTER'S PROMISED AMENDMENTS CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS IN LEGAL OFFICES [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, May 27. The clause in the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill which sought to bring the offices of solicitors, mining companies, and miners’ unions under the provisions of the Act is to bo deleted by the Government. Amendments to this effect were contained in a Supplementary Order Paper which was circulated in the House of Representatives to-day. A new clause is, however, to be included bringing tho workers in these offices under the provisions of the Bill with regard to the minimum wage rates. Although it is staled that there is no obligation on an employer to make any payment for overtime, these three classes of offices are also to be brought under the provisions of the Bill dealing with the keeping of wages and time books. Action is further to be taken to meet the wishes of the banks in respect to exclusion from the overtime provisions. The effect of the amendments is that the offices of solicitors, mining companies, and miners’ unions will not have to observe the closing hours laid down in the Bill—s p.m. on week days and noon on Saturdays. The minimum wage of 15s a week, rising in half-yearly increments of 4s a week until £2 a week is payable after three years’ service, is applicable to workers in these offices, but they will be exempt from the overtime provisions of legislation. The clause in the Bill limiting the hours of employment in hotels and restaurants is to come into force on September 1 along with “ the shorter hours ” clauses in the other industrial legislation. An amending provision is to he introduced by Mr Armstrong so that the rate for any overtime worked between July 1 when the general provisions of the Bill will come into operation and September 1 must bb paid for at time and a-half, with a minimum of Is 6d an hour. As suggested by the Minister in his second-reading speech last night an amendment has been introduced so that shop assistants in receipt of wages amounting to £3OO or more annually must receive extra pay for overtime. As tbe Bill stood previously only shop assistants receiving under £3OO a year were entitled to overtime payment. Also in accord with the Minister’s statement, the definition of the term restaurant in the original Act is to be amended to include boarding houses in which the number of boarders is usually live or more. The relevant clause in the Bill formerly provided that boarding houses with 10 boarders would he brought within the scope of the Act. Another new clause is to be inserted exempting passenger transport services or agencies from the closing hour provisions of the Bill.

“Representations have been made to the Labour Bills Committee and to myself in connection with solicitors and their assistants,” said Mr Armstrong, during the committee stages of the Bill, “ and it was stated that many concessions which law clerks and others in the offices now enjoyed would be withdrawn if overtime had to be paid. 1 have thus arranged for an amendment to the Bill to ensure that the existing law shall stand except in regard to the minimum page provisions. 1 shall move the necessary amendment when the appropriate stage is reached. “ The banks also seem to have a claim for partial exemption,” continued the Minister, “as it is necessary for them to work beyond ordinary hours at certain times of the year. I went into this matter, and 1 have just received from the banks a clause which will meet the position. If 1 put it in the Bill as it is written they should have no kids coming.” Mr S. G. Holland (Opposition, Christchurch North) said he was sure the Government and Minister would not lose anything by exempting lawyers’ offices from the overtime provisions of the Bill. As a result of the Minister’s consideration the lawyers would be prepared more than ever to play the game with their employees, perhaps even to a greater extent than they had in the past.