LABOUR LEGISLATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3098, 30 July 1913, Page 5

LABOUR LEGISLATION.

SHOPS AND OFFICES BILL. HOTEL EMPLOYEES INCLUDED. IFnou Qub Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 17. The first instalment of the Labour legislation of the Reform Government was circulated this evening in the form of the Shops and Offices Bill. This is a comprehensive measure which repeals " The Shops and Offices Act, 1908,” and “Ihc Shops and Offices Amendment Act, 1910,” and replaces them in full detail with clauses which make many minor and technical alterations in the existing conditions. HOTEL EMPLOYEES. One of tfie most important sections of the Bill is w.vh respect to hotel employees. Under the old Act those wore granted a half-holiday only in the week, but the new Bill provides the " six-day week” lor them, also that males above 16-years of ago shall work 62 hours per week and others 58 hours. In the case ot restaurant employees, males above 16 years have the 62-hour week and others 52 hours. The working days shall not exceed 11 hours, and may not bo exceeded in any one day by more than three hours nor by more than 90 hours in any one year. Overtime shall bo paid at half as much again as ordinary pay, or 9d per hour, whichever is the greater. In lieu of the whole holiday per week to which each employee is entitled it shall bo lawful for tho employer to allow his assistant by mutual agreement leave of absence on fun pay for seven days in every three months in the case of bar assistants or assistants in restaurants not carrying on business on Sundays. Hotel assistants other than those employed in the bar may receive 14 days’ leave on full nay in every three months in lieu of the weekly full day. Another alternative provided is that an assistant entitled to a half-holiday per week may receive a full holiday in every alternate week in lieu of tho regular half-day. A similar provision operates in the case of the full day. An hotel is dtlined as including a private hotel and a private boarding-house in which three or more persons (other than the occupier and the members of his family) are ordinarily employed, and “ restaurant ” means any premises (other than an hotel) in which meals are sold for consumption on the promises and whether or not lodging is provided for hire, and also includes a tea room ami an oyster saloon. Notwithstanding the provisions of this measure Arbitration Court awards in operation on December 3, 1910 (the date of ‘'The •Shops and Offices Amendment Act, 1910”), and still in force at tho time of tho passage of this Bill shall continue in force as though the Act had not been passed. THE WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY. A new clause in the Bill fixes tho method by which the weekly half-holiday in any district or “combined” district may bo selected by a noil of electors. Every requisition shall be signed by not less than one-tenth of tho total number of electors of tho borough or town district in the case of a separate d'strict, or by not less than one-tenth of tho total number of tho electors of tho constitutional boroughs and town districts. In the case of a combined district, for the purposes of this subsection the electors shall be deemed lo be the persons whose names are on the electors’ roll or tho electors’ rolls for the time being in force in the separate districts or constituent districts. Every person signing a requisition under this section shall sign thereon his full name, and shall add to his sigtia-, turn his place of abode and calling or description and the local authority may refuse to take into account tho signature of the person who does not comply with the provisions of this subsection. If no no.ll is demanded in the manner required the statutory closing day may be fixed by resolution at a special meeting of the local authority in a separate district, and by a resolution of delegates from the local authorities in combined districts. OVERTIME. A new clause is inserted with tho intention of getting over the difficulties which have given rise to frequent, complaints by unions about tho keeping of wages and overtime books. The occupier of a shop is required to fill in this book all particulars relating to tho employment of each individual employee, and these particulars must, include the hours worked during each week.- A now provision is the following: The entry of the particulars referred toshall he signed by the assistant at tho timo of the payment of his wages, and such signature shall operate not only us a receipt for such payment, but also as a certificate of the correctness of the particulars entered with respect to that assistant. MISCELLANEOUS. On the application of the occupier of tiny shop which is required to bo closed at a specified time, the Minister may require tho occupier of any other shop in the same trade situated within one mile to close his shop at, the same hour. Another important new provision is that it shall not bo lawful to extend the working hours of any female assistant or any male assistant under the age of 16 years without tho written consent of tho inspector. Previously tho provision was merely “any assistant.” Another provision presents shops delivering goods after the hours at which they are to be closed. It is also provided that suitable heating appliances to the satisfaction of the inspeo* : tor shall bo provided in shops and offices. If any shop assistant is employed late; titan 15 minutes after the prescribed time tho employer commits an offence in respect j of each shop assistant to employed.