SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13210, 17 February 1905, Page 5

SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT.

(Peh United Piikss Association.)

WELLINGTON, February 16. A deputation from tho Trades and Labour Council waited unon the Premier to-night to enquire why tho Shops and Offices Act was not being enforced.' Tho deputation complained of the delay in the bearing of the test case, by the Appeal Court, and alieged that the slion assistants were being worked longer hours than allowed by the Act. Mr SedfJon, in reply, said the Government was not responsible for the delay, as it had not the fixing of (he Appeal Court (lata. Until tlio test case was decided it ns no life enforcing serf,ion 2of tlio Act. Alt the other sections of tlio Act, except those governed by tho test cniso were being enforced. The hours of labour, however, were not in question, and existing legislation dealt with it. If the law was beiiig violated it was tho (hitv of inspectors to take action. Jin expressed himself in favour of amending legislation exempting from early closing, ivitlun reasonable limits, fruiterers oonleotmnws, and the like, with proper restrictions to see that employees in those businesses were not overworked.