COAL ON SATURDAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20990, 29 September 1931, Page 10

COAL ON SATURDAYS.

DELIVERIES AFTER HOURS. PROSECUTIONS PENDING. A number of coal and firewood dealers in Auckland are to be prosecuted in the Magistrate's Court shortly on charges of having delivered coal and firewood after 1 p.m. on Saturdays, contrary to (he provisions of the Slicps and Offices Ad. In the eyes of the law a coal merchant's yard or depot is a "shop." and it must he closed by 1 p.m. on Saturdays, 9 p.m. ou Fridays and 6 p.in on other week-days. The Act stales that a shop is not closed while the occupier or any of his assistants arc engaged in selling goods, in canvassing for orders, or in delivering goods to customers. In referring to the matter yesterday Ihe secretary of the Coal Dealers' Association said that many people placed thenorders on Saturdays and requested delivery the same day. In order to comply with these requests dealers were obliged to deliver after hours on Saturday afternoon. Practically no attempt had been made in the past to enforce the law. Some of the principal dealers previously had not been aware that their depots were regarded as "shops," and that their "shops" were, not closed while their drivers were delivering orders.