SUBURBAN SHOP HOURS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19859, 1 February 1928, Page 14

SUBURBAN SHOP HOURS.

Sir,—From February 1 magistrates throughout New Zealand are empowered to grant exemption from the closing hours to any shopkeeper whose business has been prejudicially affected by legislation. In 1920 pressure was brought to bear on the Arbitration Court by the larger retailers to have provision made in the awards for the closing of all shops at the hour fixed in. the award for the assistant to cense work. This move was made because the closing of the suburban shops meant increased business for the large city shops, whose profits had fallen off because of the concessions for shorterhours and increased wages granted by:the. Arbitration Court to shop assistants. Prior to 1920 many of the suburban. shops for the convenience of the public were .kept open to a late hour, the owner of the business carrying on after his. assistants had left the shop. As a result of. the statutory restricted hours of trading the loss to the small trader has been serious. Many have lost all they had invested in business and homes have been broken up. To enforce the law the Labour Department found it necessary to employ a number of men to watch these small traders. Hundreds of men and women, caught in the net of after-hour trading, have been prosecuted. Never before in the Police Court, they felt their position keenly, but for them" there were no extenuating circumstances, they were law breakers and were fined as such. Government interference in business in recent years constitutes a ver.y serious injustice.' Provided the assistants are not kept on the premises after the hours provided for in their awards, the owner of the business should have the right to keep his shop open. I trust that many. who have had to seek employment elsewhere, leaving their wives to manage the shop, will avail themselves of the opportunity offered to. make, .thejr business a,, payable one, get back into their own-..shops and. thus relieve the labour market. . ' . ' . Arthur Lynne. General Secretary, . . Small Shopkeepers' Association.