SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13939, 24 July 1917, Page 3

SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING.

PROTEST BY HOTEL WORKERS,

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 22. A deputation representing the ho!. 1 ! workers waited on the Prime .Miuisl:r Unlay lo protest against six oYln,|"sing. ' PiTjTf'jv llr A. Jackson, President nf the New Zealand Hotel Workers, Unin.i, said that if early closing wm brought into force ;!.') Mini per cent, of the iiorcl workers would be thrown out of work. The hotels at present were open for sixteen hours a (lay, ami the hotel workers' workers' award made provision for a ten hours' day, consequently hotel proprietors hart to keep two shifts, The strength of his organisation was .'IS2I, but of this number 700 hail gone to the front voluntarily and expected to get their positions back again. This would not be possible if the hotels were clascd at six o'clock. Jf it were a fair thing to close the hotels at sir o'clock, the same time as shops, then it was also a fair tiling

I hat the hotel workers should have the same privileges and the same hours as are worked by the shop assistants. The Prime Minister said that the matter would lie one for special consulmatter would be one for special legislation, The Government had no desire to injure any section of the community, and a Bill dealing, with the matte:' would be brought down • within the i next few weeks.