SHOPS AND OFFICES BILL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5732, 30 October 1905, Page 6

SHOPS AND OFFICES BILL.

AGREEMENT BY BOTH HOUSES. THE BILL AS IT NOW 7 STANDS. One of tho most contentious measures of tho session, tho Shops and Offices Bill, is at last on the statute-book. Introduced in the first stages of the session, it has gone through various processes of alteration after debates innumerable in both Houses, aud conferences that almost seemed interminable. Finality wus reached on Saturday. In moving that tho report of tho conference of tho two Houses on the bill be agreed to (the recommendations were published in detail in Saturday's issue), tho Premier said as tho bill came down, to the House tho hour of closing was 6 o'clock all over the country. He detailed tiie amendments, which were all in tho direction of a compromise as to hours. The bill was not yet what ho would like to see, but ho realised that if they fixed arbitrary hours in the country districts, where the conditions varied very much, they might inflict hardships, and they did not think it wise to hamper country shopkeepers in that way. Mr Massey, as one of the managers for the House, said from almost every point of view what was proposed now was a great improvement on tho bill as it left the House and also on the existing law. Jj o believed most of the shopkeepers in tho places outside tho boroughs would fix on 6 o’clock. In some of tho cities, of course, there would be objection to the restriction of hours of labour which virtually compelled somo shops to close at 9 o’clock on Saturdays. But the Legislative Council simply said “If you farPt agree to what we consider a reasonable comnromise you have to fall back on the present law.” Mr Baume agreed that what was being done was an improvement on the existing law.

Mr Barber was glad an arrangement had been arrived at which would allow, the small shopkeeper to make a living, and not force him into bankruptcy. Mr Hogg, on behalf of the country districts. regretted that a better compromise had not been arrived at. It would be a great hardship on country people to have to clckso so early. Mr Buchanan also protested strongly against what was being done. The report was agreed to. SUMMARY OF THE BILL. ITS EFFECTS. ,A summary of the bill as it now stands will be of general interest. Tho principal feature of the bill is, of course, the repeal of clause 3 of last year's act, which provided for tho compulsory closing of shops at specified hours. The act ns now amended contains nothing to compel any shop to close at any hour. The only enactment of the kind in force is the half-holiday regulation, which is not affected by the present legislation. The new bill deals only with the hours of labour of shop assistants, with the exception of those trades mentioned in the schedule of the bill (as given below). All shop assistants employed in the four combined districts and in all boroughs with a population of 5000 and over shall leave work at six o'clock on all days, with the exception of tho half-holiday, and ono late night in each week. In boroughs with a population of less than 5000 the assistants shall not work later than 7 o'clock. In all other parts of the colony employers may keep their assistants as loiyj as their shops are open. In every case no assistant shall bo employed more than 52 hours in any one week. Permission is given to chemists, to bring back their assistants for two hours during the evening of tho day on which the statutory half-holiday is observed. In the case of hairdressers, it is provided that in the event of chairs or any portion of the premises being let, the lessee shall be considered as an assistant under the act. The new bill provides that the members of shop-keepers' families shall not bo considered as shop-assist-ants. The shop assistants employed in the various trades, enumerated in the following table may be employed until the hours mentioned on the one late night, and the four ordinary nights of the week respectively:— *

. In regard to the weekly half-holiday bakers, confectioners, fishmongers, and fruiterers may keep their assistants until 10.30 p.m., and refreshment-room keepers until 11.45 p.m, on the day appointed for the half-holiday. The assistants employed in tho remaining trades enumerated above must leave work at 1 o’clock on the day of the halfholiday.

Bakers Late Night. 11 p.m. Ordinary Nights. 10.30 p.m. Butchers 10 p.m. 6 p.m. Chemists 9 p.m. 8 p.m. Confectioners 11 p.m. 10.30 p.m. Dairy produce sellers 10 p.m. 6 p.m. Fishmongers 11 p.m. 10.30 p.m. Florists 10 p.m. 8 p.m. Fruiterers 11 p.m. 10.30 p.m. Hairdressers 10.30 p.m. 8 p.m. Newsagents 10 p.m. 8 p.m. Pork-butchers 11 p.m. 10.30 p.m. Refreshment-room keepers 11.45 p.m. 11.45 p.m. Tobacconists 10.30 p.m. 8 p.m.