FAILING TO CLOSE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10537, 13 March 1920, Page 7

FAILING TO CLOSE

ON SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY. Several shop-keepers -were charged before Mr E. Page, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday with breaches of the Shops and Offices Act, 1908. The ingformations were sworn by Mr R. T. Bailey. In the case of a Celestial, Wong She, who failed to close his shop on Saturday half-holiday, the prosecutor stated that fruiterers and confectioners were exempt from closing only so long as they confined their 'trade to those businesses. The defendant stocked cigarettes- and other goods in a portion of the shop that was partitioned off, but even so access could be gained through an unlocked door. Mr T. Hislop, for the defendant, entered a plea of guilty, but explained that his client’s action had boon quite bona fide, as ho believed that so long as he did not expose the goods for sale he need not close his shop. Wong She was convicted and ordered to pay the costs. For a similar offence, Sing On Kee was mulcted £2 and costs. W. Howarth, a Cuba street bookseller, said he did not know that he was required to close his shop at 10 p.m., even though ho had signed the requisition which had brought about the regulation. A fine of £2 was imposed.