POLLING WEEK.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2804, 23 November 1931, Page 8

POLLING WEEK.

HALF-HOLIDAY PROVISIONS. REQUIREMENTS OF SHOPS. Following are the half holiday regulations which must be observed in connection with polling day on December 2 Section 128 (2) of the Election Act, 1927, provides as follows: — “Where the polling day at any election is other than that appointed as the weekly half holiday under- the Shops and Offices Act, 1921-22, the provisions of that Act reacting to the weekly half holiday shall be deemed to refer to polling day in lieu of the day so appointed and shall not be necessary for any employer to observe the day so appointed in the week in which polling day falls. “(3) It shall not be necessary for any factory to close during any working hours on polling day but the occupier of the factory shall afford to each of his employees a reasonable opportunity to record his vote and no deduction shall be made from the wages of any such employee in respect of the time occupied in so recording his vote, providing such time does not exceed one working hour. “(4) Every person who commits an offence against these sections is liable to a fine of £5.” Factory occupiers are thus required merely to give their employees reasonable time in which to vote, that time not to exceed one working hour, and without deducting from wages. Occupiers of shops must, however, observe the usual weekly half holiday in election week on polling day. In the case of shops which are not required to observe half holidays, such as fishmongers, fruiterers, confectioners, dairy produce sellers, bakers and pastrycooks, assistants must be'•given the weekly ha|f holiday on polling day.