SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 15

SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT.

The Premier would be very glad to repeal part ofthat act. He (Mr Massey) did not say the whole of it should be repealed. The Shops and Offices Bill was introduced early in the session. When it was before the Bxnise for the second reading one of the northern members of the Opposition moved that it be referred to the Labour Bills Committee, but the Minister in charge objected, and, of course, a majority opposed the proposal. Had the bill been referred to that committee many of the mistakes afterwa-rds made would have been avoided. However, the bill passed the second reading, got to the committee stage, and a week was spent discussing and amending it, and when it passed the House of Representatives he (Mr Massey) believed that that bill was thoroughly satisfactory, and as perfect as it was possible to make it, and would have given satisfaction to the majority of the people of the country. But it went to the Upper House, and there they inserted that compulsory 6 o'clock clause without any exemptions, which had been the cab»D of so much heart-burning. That clause was agroed to in the dying hours of the session, at 2.30 on the morning of the last day of the session. And now, let them look at the extraordinary position into which they had got in regard to that act. It was not being enforced, but was being practically suspended, and in a most unconstitutional way, by the Government. The Government dared not enforce it — he was speaking of the objectionable section. Either that act was right or wrong, and if it was right it should be enforced, and if it was wrong the proper thing would have begn ti> convene Parliament and put the

matter right. — (Applause.) He would toil them about another act it (the Opposition) was going to repeal. Had they ever heard of