THE SHOP HALF-HOLIDAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2404, 9 January 1895, Page 3

THE SHOP HALF-HOLIDAY.

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER OP LABOUR. A deputation of shopkeepers waited upon tho Minister of Labour yesterday afternoon to obtain his' opinion as to tho correct interpretation of certain doubtful provisions in tho Shops and Shopassistants Act. The deputation, which was introduced by Mr J. Duthie, M.H.E., consisted of Messrs Kirkcaldio (Kirkcaldio and Stains), J. Smith (Te Aro House), Corrigan (D.1.C.), Hannah (B. Hannah and Co.), and Wardoli (Warded Bros.). Mr Duthie explained that the gentlemen present wore desirous of obtaining the Minister’s opinion with reference to the construction to be placed upon two provisions of tho new Act, which were found to be rather puzzling to those engaged in retail trade. There were two classes of persons employed in shops who were referred to in the Act, viz., shop-assistants and office-employees, and their hours of employment wore diiferently regulated, a distinction being made between tho two classes. All the larger shops kept a staff of persons distinct from tho assistants to attend to tho book-keeping, and there was a doubt in the minds of shopkeepers ns to whether tho Act placed them in a different category from the ordinary shop-assistants. If so, much inconvenience would arise. For his own part he scarcely thought the fear that this was so was well grounded, because according to the interpretation clause shopassistant meant “any person who works in a shop for hire.” Therefore, in his opinion, the clerks who wore employed in tho counting-houses of shops came under this definition. The second point was as to tho operation of the new Act. It took effect from tho Ist of January this year, but the fixing of tho weekly, half-holiday was postponed until a conference of the delegates of tire local bodies of tho district was hold for that purpose. Consequently there was at present no fixed time for the compulsory closing. That, of course, would not remain long unsettled, bnt in the interim shopkeepers wore anxious to know what they were expected to do. Mr Kirkcaldio said that the deputation in asking information on' these points were dealing with a matter of colonial and not of merely local concern. They were anxious that shopkeepers generally should be made familiar with the working of the Act. The two points which required to be made plain wore; —(1) Are our clerks to be treated in the same way ns the clerks of banks and insurance offices, and on the ordinary days of tho week to leave off work an hour before the usual closing time (6 o’clock), and without any option to have a half-holiday on Saturdays? That appeared to bo the rending of the Act. (2) Are wo at liberty to keep onr shops open until tho conference has decided on what day of the week the half-holiday is to bo observed ? THE MINISTERS REPLY. Mr Beeves said that ns regarded this second point, of course it was rather awkward, Still his answer was distinctly in tho negative. It was quite clear in his opinion that tho meaning of the Act was that from the Ist of January every shop (excepting those that were specially exempted) ought to close on one half-day of tho week. It was equally clear that until the conference fixed the day each shopkeeper might decide for himself on which half-day ho would close his place. In the event of an information being laid against any shopkeeper for non-closing prior to the fixing of the day it would remain in tho discretion of the , Magistrate whether to impose a substantial or an entirely nominal fine. As regarded , tho other point he thought ho could afford the help the deputation desired. He could tell them his own opinion about the construction of this part of the Act, and what he had instructed tho .officers of the department to do, and what not to do. Ho would also obtain the opinion of the Crown law officers on the point, so that they might know exactly. where they were. For the present he would interpret the Act in a way that would be loss harassing to tho shopkeepers than tho other itay. He would interpret it to mean that all persons employed in clerical work in connection with shops were virtually shop-assistants. It seomed to him that to interpret it any other way would he straining somewhat the language of the Act. For example, take tho case of a small shop, where either the owner himself or an assistant kept tho accounts and also took part in the work of tho shop, which was not an unusual thing. To hold that because a man did some clerical work in a shop therefore he was an office clerk and should have a halfholiday cn Saturday in addition to the half-day on which tho shop closed would be ridiculous. Consequently it soemed to him, as the office was a part of the shop, any person employed in it must be considered to be a shop-assistant as defined by the Act. That being his opinion, he would instruct the officers of the department not to interfere in any way with shopkeepers who give their clerks and other shop-assistants a holiday on the halfday each week on which they closed their shops. He would take the opinion of the Crown law officers on the point, but in the meantime the Act would bo interpreted in tho way ho had indicated. Mr Duthie: And supposing" there ahonld ho a difference of opinion as to the interpretation? ' Mr Beeves said that it the opinion he obtained conflicted with the one he had just explained ho would give instructions to make public the construction placed upon tho provision in question.” AS'for the other point, it would he only a matter of a few days before the conference met and fixed the day for the weekly half-holiday. Mr Kirkcaldio said the conference was to meet in Wellington for this purpose on tho 21st inst. \ . Mr J. Smith remarked that In Dunedin the date for the conference was the 15th inst. ■ . . ' The deputation then thanked the Minister and withdrew. . ! MEETING UF SHOPKEEPERS. A meeting of shopkeepers interested in observing 'Wednesday as the statutory half-holiday was' held in the Exchange Buildings last night, where there was a large attendance, many not being able to get admission into the room. The chair was occupied by Mr James Smith. Tho Chairman said , that Mr Pago (Town Clerk), in informing the committee appointed at last meeting that the City Council r had fixed January 2lat for the conference of delegates to decide upon the day for the half-holiday, had suggested that it would he well if a conference could previously he held between the representatives of the three different bodies who addressed the Council on the matter, with a view, if possible, of recommending to the Council a day which would be satisfactory to all parties, and had stated that' the Council was also of opinion that some steps shoul4 he taken to; ascertain the wishes of the general public on the matter. With: respect to tho first part of the letter, the committee did not consider it desirable to hold a conference with those in favour of Saturday. The committee, however, were of opinion that it was desirable to get the opinion of the public on tho question of having the half-holiday on Wednesday. The meeting that evening was called for the purpose of hearing what had been done in the meantime, and to get suggestions with regard to the carrying on of tho work. Mr W. E. Woods said that.printed forms had been supplied to shopkeepers for the purposes of getting signatures in favour of the Wednesdayhalf-holiday, and three canvassers had been appointed who were procuring the names of those in favour of Wednesday in a systematic manner, so that tho City Council would have no difficulty in' tracing tho signatures. He believed it would bo wise to put on a copplo more canvassers to canvass the country districts. He, considered it would bo vary injurious to tradespeople if Saturday wore selected for the half-holi-day. When the work of the canvassers had been completed they would have no difficulty in placing before (the conference good grounds for selecting Wednesday. Mr Batkin considered that ns the proposal of a Wednesday half-holiday in the town had met with such success they might reasonably conclude that the country districts were agreeable to the same day. Mr W. Coltman believed they were going on wrong premises altogether. He thought it was tho duty of the City Council to select the day, and not shirk their duty by referring the matter to tho ratepayers. Mr Thorburn was strongly of opinion that they should send canvassers into the country districts, so ' that tho residents •phere might get guidance how to act. The Act was passed in the interests of the qhop r assistants, the majority of whom were opposed to the opinions of those in favour of Wednesday. Mr Veitch pointed out that the best way to get the work done was for the meeting to guarantee tho necessary expenses, and appoint, an executive committee to carry out the work. After further discussion it was agreed that the country districts be canvassed for signatures in favour of Wednesday. In answer to a question Mr Woods gave aq estimate of the cost of canvassing the town and country districts. Mr Thorburn suggested that the meeting guarantee the amount required, and fhat those who were, not present could bo asked to subscribe afterwards,| On the. suggestion, of the Chairman, a Subscription list was opened, when a substantial amount was promised in the room.’ On the motion of Mr Voitch.a committee, consisting of Messrs J. Smith, T. Bush, T. P. Coveney, H. ■ Fielder, J. Lindsay, W. Chltman and W 1 B. Woods, %qa apposed to carry put the work sketched by the meeting. Mr yoiteli'said he had been informed that if Saturday were selected for

the half-holiday over ono-half of tho shopkeepers in Cuba street would he able to keep open. Under these circumstances a very great hardship would be inflicted on those compelled to close, as their customers would go elsewhere. Mr W. Coltman said he was the only man in his lino of business who could keep open on Saturday if that day were selected for the half-holiday. The Act did not affect him, but he was there on principle, and he was prepared to close on Wednesday, but not on Saturday. Mr D. D. Hyde suggested that those present should close on Wednesday in this week, and that those in sympathy with the movement he requested to do likewise.

This was agreed to, and it was decided to advertise the same in the New Zealand Times. [This advertisement appears in this issue/) The Chairman said it would be well if the shopkeepers were to form an association for their protection. Such an association would have nothing to do with the halfholiday question, but would merely be an association for protecting the interests of shopkeepers generally. After some further discussion the meeting concluded with the customary vote of thanks to the chairman. By an advertisement elsewhere several shopkeepers announce their intention of closing their premises this afternoon for tho weekly half-holiday. ‘The advertisement also points out that tho Act requires the half-holiday to bo observed from the Ist January, and those in favour of Wednesday are requested to close this afternoon. Several other advertisements with reference to the half-holiday appear elsewhere. A petition is being numerously signed in Greytown that the half-holiday be observed on Saturday. At a meeting at Feilding, convened by the Mayor, Wednesday was fixed. A petition has been signed by some of the Featherston storekeepers asking that the usual day, Thursday, may be retained for tho half-holiday. Thera is, however, a strong feeling that Saturday ought to be tho day.