SHOPS AND OFFICES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 145, 4 June 1936, Page 9

SHOPS AND OFFICES

Bill Passed by Upper House ANOMALIES POINTED OUT By Telegraph'.- -Press Association. WELLINGTON. June 3. Moving the committal of the Shops and .Offices Amendment Bill in the Legislative Council to-day, the Hou. M. Fagan said that the Bill was in line with other Government Bilk? dealing with labour laws. Sir J. Allen said that trustee companies had as much right to be exempted from the hours provision as had solicitors’ and mining companies’ offices and others. Extra time was reed. ,ed beyond office hours. TJie Hon. V. A. Ward said that five savings banks in the Dominion had remained open or Friday nights. He suggested that the Minister might i oilaider permitting banks to remain open on such nights. The Hon. W. Hayward considered that Saturday noon closing should not be brought into operation till alter the 40-hour week was instituted, The clause prohibiting a reduction of wages on account of reduced wording Hours was a perpetuation of the vicious principle which placed the onus of proof or disproof on an accused person. In the case of a tobacco shop, would the owner of the shop be permitted to work after noon on the statutory clos-ing-day? The Hon. J. McLeod expressed the opinion that if the legislation worked out to bo economically sound there Would be great benefit to evefy bodj. lhe Hon. F. E. Lark contended that the Bill would benefit both employers and employees. REASONABLE DEAL. The Hou. R. M ast ws said he believed that the intention of the Government was to give employees who bad not received a reasonable deal, a reasonable deal in future. At the same time Jie doubted the effect ol the measure. The legislation would have a serious effect on the employment of young people in future. The maximum wages under the, present Bill, commiied with the basic wage under another Bill, would do injustice to boys and girls leaving secondary schools. E’mploi rs "ould look to hoys of 11 who v. mill bo worth the basic wage when lliei bucaine2l I lie legislation would make employers less generous Ilian tliVi mil been in the past. The Hub T Bluodwoilli ugiced that there might be a harmful effect to young people seeking employment. In replying to the debate, AJi Fagan said that as far as trustee companies, were concerned the Public j’nist'.v mid assured the Minister that the |>.>iiiim 1 was quite satisfactory. Mr Masters Does the Biibii: ■t: -1 |'lliiie i onio itjidcj the Bill? ,\ir Fagan No bill, tin .Miniistei took the advice oi people knowing everything about it Mr Masters: i'lley ire :n eompeti tioii. ■Mr Fagan. J'bev are working 37 hours a week and don’t wniii >i'v law amended

Mr Eagan said there was nothing to stop the firm about whom Sir James Allen was concerned from working overtime. Mr X’agaii said that solicitors had been exempt because solicitors and their employees had sought exemption. No evidence had been tendered by the savings banks mentioned by Air Ward- tSaimgs banks were included in the Bill, but it it were found that there were any injustice, then. the. position would be rectified. Answering the point raised by Air Hayward, Mr iagau contended that there would be no harm in the onus of proof being on Hie employers. lhe onus of proof had Been on the other man long enough. Tho case had also been raised of a tobac. couist shop where the occupier employ, ed one or more hands. Lt had been asked wha't would be the position as far as noon closing was concerned. Mr Fagan said that tiiu halt-holiday operated as far as the employees were concerned, but the owner could remain at work. A THIRTY-HOUR WEEK. Dealing with the extra leisure that would be available to workers through the 40-liour week, Air Eagan said lie was looking to tuo time when weekly hours ol work would be 30. I'tiat would be possible with increased eificiency and the use of machinery. iu the committee stage Air Hayward moved the deletion of the sub-i-lause which set out tnat, m determining the rate ol payment, employment iu any shop whatsoever should be taken i/ij-u account. The Hon. J. Alexander suggested that the clause could be amended so as to provide that employers couid not exchange their employees with another firm in the same line oi business and engage new members as inexperienced hands

Air Hayward withdrew Jus amendment and moved an amendment on the lines suggested by Air Alexander.

The amendment was lost by 18 votes t 0 11 The clause removing the £3QO restriction in payment oi overtime was retained by 21 votes to nino. Sir James Allen moved to exempt statutory trust companies from the wages provisions of the Bill, but his amendment was defeated bv 23 votes to seven. Air Masters moved that i olieilo’“i’ offices should not be exempt from the provision of the Bill He contended that no differentiation should be shown, flic amendment was defeated by 23 votes to seven. Tiiu Bill was passed with the amendments made In Hi.- Labour Bills Committee ami the Council rose ul 5.15 p.m SLY Eli AL AMEN DM LN Th. Several amendments were imide to the Shops and Offices Amendment bill by the Labour Bills Column tec ol the Legislative Council and have been adopted, lhe clause dealing with nours of work of hotel or restaurant employees .in a hall-liolida.i lias been amended. nml it is now 'provided taut eni plover.., may lie worked till I p.m on Hie day oi the liolidai instead .f noon I he Bill also provided lor a break oi half an bout for hotel and estauraut omjtloyees in every four anil •i-i,mirter hours if the assistant is given a rest ol leu minutes in every three lioiirs. l he clause dealing with exemptions I rum closing-liours has been redra' ted and a new clause embodied. This

clause removes the exemption from hours of closing of offices contained in section 16 of the principal Act in lespect of auetionerk, banks, insurance companies and wholesale warehousemen. Under the present law offices in industries where it is necessary to deal with the public m the evenings are exempt Hom closing their offices at a p.m. and at noon on Saturdays Such ollices as shipping, tramways, new,; paper and forwarding agencies are exempt. A new clause provides !«<■ the addition ->j passenger tianspoi't sei vices to the list. The restriction has been removed cn ih 0 payment of overtime to office assistants receiving less than £3OO per annum. This brings overtime payments to office assistants into line with those Io shop assistants