SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12908, 3 July 1905, Page 6

SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT.

ATTITUDE OF THE COUNCIL. [by TELEGRAPH.— correspondent, i

Wellington, Saturday. The attitude which the Legislative Council is likely to take, up in regard to the Bill has been a matter of some speculation. fo far the Hon. W. Rigg is the only mm L of the Upper Chamber who liar expressed dissent from the proposal to repeal clause 3 Speaking yesterday, he said he regretted th.l proposal to abolish any clause. The steij proposed was a retrograde one, which was not likely to be consented to by the shott assistants and the majority of the people of ; the colony. The whole, trouble, he asserted J had been created by a few noisy shopkeepers | getting a crowd of people together, and cry, ing out that they were being ruined. }{ considered that if certain exemptions had been made they would not have had the outcry if they allowed shops to keep open late, so long- as the assistants were not em ployed more than 52 hours a week, it would result in all sorts of evasions. ■ The question whether Mr. Ri' 3 senti> * ments were likely to meet with any. support amongst his fellow members was put to one of the Councillors to-night. ""Will hJ amending Bill pass your Chamber?" he was asked. "Yes, without a doubt," was tlla reply. -There will bo no trouble about that. It will go through all right, as mil as eggs." ' ' ' '"' t.j EVIDENCE TO BE TAKEN. . ' [BY TELEGRAPH.-SPECIAL' correspondent,) Wellington, Saturday. '' Tin Labour Bills Committee, to which, the Shop and Offices Act Amendment. Bill has been referred, held a preliminary meeting ' : on Friday, when' it was decided to. commence to take evidence on Tuesday. Mr. Arnold,' who has been re-elected .chairman of the committee, states that it is anticipated that the taking of evidence will he completed 'in' time tc permit of the committee reporting to the House within the limit of 14-,'dayaj •Those who are interested in the measure:in the -four chief centres are being communicated with, and notification is also being sent to other towns, from which evidence masbe forthcoming. It is understood that the evidence will not be limited to clause, 3, and ' that witnesses will be invited to state then; opinions on such matters as the fixing of closing hours by a three-fifths' • majority of the particular trades, or . any other vexeq : % points in the main Aot, which come withhi the range of'controversy. The city mem' : bers state that they will be glad if 'any perl sons _ desiring to give evidence would com- ' municate with them at once. The evidence" of the Wellington witnesses will be taken' ' on-Tuesday, and it is hoped that all mil nesses will be examined by Friday next. Thd petition from the bank clerks of the colony; asking to be exempted from the operations of the Act, has also been referred to the Labour Bills Committee. • " j

The Auckland Fruiterers' Association have i appointed Messrs. Olms. Bagley and J. D. Webster as their representatives upon the combined deputation of shopkeepers whioli is to wait upon the Premier at Wellington I in reference to the Shops and Offices Act : Messrs. Bagley and Webster leave for Well | lington to-day. -~;.