DISSATISFACTION IN CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12713, 16 November 1904, Page 6

DISSATISFACTION IN CHRISTCHURCH.

[by TELEGRAPH. CORRESPONDENT.] ' CMRJS'iCHatmcH, * Tuesday. 1 The Shops'and Offices Act, -which came into operation •on Saturday, was "a bolt irom the blue" to the majority of local shopkeeperis. How the Act will be viewed in nature is difficult to say, but at present it is causing much unfavourable comment; more so than any recent legislation of the Government. One tobacconist and hairdresser described the Act as very unfair. "The position is this," he said. "1 saw the Crown Law 'Officer fcliis morning, and he informs me firstly, that a tobacconist can keep his shop open after sis in the evening so long as he does not employ an assistant during the day, and secondly, that the Arbitration Act award under which hairdressers work overrides the new Act,' so that a hairdressing establishment can remain open after six o'clock. A tobacconist whose business is large and necessitates the employing of an assistant, must close at six o'clock, whilst the smaller rival ear remain open. It is surely unfair that hotels should be able'to sell tobacco, cigarettes, and cigars every; night until eleven, o'clock, when the man whose special business it 'a to sell .tobacco is forced by this Act to close at six o'clock on four days a week, one o'clock on Thursday, and nine o'clock on Saturday. The hotels have the privilege of soiling smoking material 32 hours in the week more than the tobacconist who employs an assistant. The outcome of the thing will be that the whole of the tobacconists of New Zealand will have to petition Parliament to make it illegal for hotels to sell these goods." A number of small 'grocers outside the centre of the city expressed tie opinion that by closing at nine o'clock on Saturday nights they would lose much of their present trade. People 'returning from town often found thev ' had forgotten some article, and usually called at shops,in the outskirts and got what they wanted. Much would," however, depend on the inspector's interpretation of the section exempting those shops in which only one person is employed. Endeavours are i being made to arrange for a conference between the local tobacconists and the. members, with reference to the Act. j [BY- TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ' Christchurcti, Tuesday. The inspector of factories here reports that the early closing provisions of the Shops "and Offices Act were generally complied with locally last night, the only exceptions being fruiterers uud fishmongers. It is probable that a number of test cases will be brought in connection with these businesses.