EARLY CLOSING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10801, 18 January 1921, Page 6

EARLY CLOSING

“NOT RUSHED THROUGH” STATEMENT BY SECRETARY FOR LABOUR. With reference to the statement® contained in a Press Association telegram from Dunedin to tho effect that the Shops and Offices Act, which com- : pels stores to close at 6 p.m. was rushed through Parliament in the closing hours of the session, Mr F. W. Rowley. Secretary for Labour, states that the bill was certainly presented in the late hours of the session. However, it went before the Labour Bills Committee, and interested parties had the usual of giving evidence before that committee. Dunedin appeared to be alone in protesting against the provisions of the Act. At any rate, he had heard of few complaints from other centres. The Act was being enforced everywhere. Some of the suburban shopkeepers do not look kindly upon the Act. One shopkeeper said that his experience since the commencement of the year had been a loss of about £5 per day. To suburban people working in town during the day there was practically no time now for shopping in the suburbs, and their patronago would probably drift to the city. Against this, view, however, it is submitted that the present season, following the holidays, does not offer a good chance of comparing trade results, and tljen, again, it will doubtless take some little time for shoppers to fall in with the new regulation hours.