RE HOURS OF SHOP ASSISTANTS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 140, 30 May 1911, Page 5

RE HOURS OF SHOP ASSISTANTS.

' Air. Bailey. Hawke’s Bay Inspector of Factories, has received: the following communication from Air. J. Lomas. Chief of. Factories :— In reference to the Shops and Offices Act, section 3, and also section 37, re the half-hour’s grace. As question has been raised to the precise interpretation .ha. should be placed upon these pro-, visions an opinion has been obtained from the Solicitor-General, a copy of which I enclose for your, information. It will be seen from this opin’, m, ! that the half-hour’s grace should be allowed only where the assistants are engaged away from the shop (such as in delivering goods).! The Solicitor-General also points out that it would be a reasonable' practice to allow shopkeepers to| employ their assistants for a few 7 minutes after the hour of ceasing! work so long as it is only for the: purpose of finishing off dealing; with customers already in the shop,: for putting away goods, and so! on, that is to say, so long as new | business is not undertaken after j the closing hour. ! This is the interpretation that! should be placed upon the provi-! sion, and I shall be glad if you will! see that the same is complied wuth! forthwith. In any case where you! deem it necessary to do so. please i intimate by circular or otherwise! to the shopkeepers concerned. ; ; It should be noted that the pro-' visions of section 7 of the Act do not affect the matter, as the same! refers only to section 6, and not to! sections 3 and 7. ’ It should, of course, be noted also! . that while the half-hour may be I taken advantage of under section! !3, as indicated by the Solicitor-! General, no such extension can be; granted under section 6. That is; to say, the daily and weekly limit; specified in section 6 must never be‘ , exceeded except wffiere overtime is! worked under sub-section 3. !