HOURS OF GROCERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7851, 13 July 1911, Page 1

HOURS OF GROCERS

THE MINIS TEE INTERVIEWED. Tho Minister of Labour, Hon. J. A. Miliar, was interviewed yeeteidsiy morning by a deputation of small shopkeepers, inti educed by Mr Eisner, M.V., on the question of the closing horn's of grocers' shops. Mr Eisner explained that a requisition had ' been taken round by tho re-{ preseruatives of the largo shopkeepers, asking that grocers' shops- close at 6 p.m. on four nights of. the week, and at 10 p.m. on Saturdays. This petition in some cases had bean signfd on misrepreantations on the phit of the men who look it round. Tho small shopkeepers, lit, self defence, and . asking for different hours, had taken round another petition, which ’had been signed by Chinese shopkeepers. - The Lapour Departnionh .■■ho , a’a i v6r,"; i held that . iii. pinna* raan was’not’a-shppkcdpor, unless he-was' natuialieedr. If they bad to close at 6 p.m. the small shopkeepers said it would be- practically : impossible for them to exist; H’hey asked that when the requisition came , before the Minister he would do what was possible,to conserve the small man's interests.

Mr Beauchamp alleged that the petition had been got up by the large shopkeepers to crash the small men. The latter were not afraid of the Chinese. The small shopkeepers depended on casual business, and did not have the same opportunities as the big shops. Discussing various points with the deputation the Minister said if the City Council was satisfied that the requisition contained the signatures of a majority of those in the trade it would have to bo gazetted. As to the Chinese, lie would liavo to be advised by the Crown Law officers. A Chinaman could not be called a grocer if he merely sold some groceries. It was the man's main bnsiiti?? that was hold .to ba iiis business under the Act. v

It was pointed out to Mr Millar that there were park butchers who handled grocers' • leading lines, bntter, eggs, bacon, etc. Were they, it was asked, to be recognised as grocers?

Tho Minister said the blame should not be put on his shoulders. If the trade requistioned that the shops should shut at 10 o'clock, and it was signed by a majority of the shopkeepers, it would bp gazetted. He would make inauiries as to the point raised about Chinese shopkeepers, but he hnd no power to stop the gazetting of the requisition if it was dulv endorsed by the Town Clerk. He suggested ihnt the deputation should interview the Citv Council on the matter. It was the duty of the council to see that the signatures were genuine before they were certified. In reply to Mr Fisher, who urged that the Minister might help the dentation bv ascertaining the legal position of the Chinese sliotokpeuerSj Mr Millar said he would make inquiries into the matter and let the deputation know