SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 July 1911, Page 5

SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT

HALF HOUR’S GRACE,

Mr H. E. Moston, Inspector of Factories, Greymouth, has received a circular from the Labour Department in respect to the halt hour’s grace that has been allowed under sections 3 and 37 of the Shops and Offices Act, 1908. Section 3 (3): If any shop assistant is employed at any work in connection with the business of any shop later than half an hour after the time prescribed by this Section, the employer commits an offence in respect to each shop assistant so employed. Section 37 : If any shop-assistant is employed at any work in connection with business of any shop later than half-an-hour. after the prescribed time the employer commits an offence in respect to each shop-assistant so employed. The question having been, raised as to the interpretation of the above clauses, the opinion of the SolicitorGeneral has been obtained and in accordance therewith I have to give you notice that in future the half-hour’s extension of time can bo allowed only, (1) where the assistants are engaged iway from the shop (such as in delivering goods), and (2) in shops for the purpose of attending to customers already in the shop, in putting away goods, and so on ; that is to say, only as long as new business is not undertaken after the hour fixed. It must, of course, be understood that the number of hours per day and per week, as provided for by section 6, quoted below, must not in any case be exceeded. I trust you will see that the above requirements are complied with immediately. Section 6 —(1) A shop assistant shall not be employed in or about the shop or its business. (a,) For more than fifty-two hours excluding meal times in any one week; nor (b) For more than nine hours, excluding meal-times, in anyone day, except on one day in each week, when the employment may be for eleven hours, excluding meal-times.