SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT

Otago Witness, Issue 3488, 18 January 1921, Page 37

SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT

SMALL TRADERS UP IN ARMS. The small trades, more particularly shopkeepers in the suburbs and about the outlying districts and seaside resorts, are much concerned over the new clauses introduced last session into the Shops and Offices Act, whereby they are compelled to cease business at 6 p.m. A meeting convened by Mr J. M. O’Grady, and advertised to be held in the Trades Hall last Saturday afternoon, was well attended by those interested, and much indignation was shown, not only in connection with the terms of the clauses, but with tlie whole manner in which they had been passed, apparently without tho knowledge of the members themselves, and with the general public in ignorance of what was going forward. Indeed, the proceedings at the commencement of the meeting indicated that even yet there was complete ignorance of what the Act stipulated, and neither the chairman (Mr H. W. Phillips) nor anyone else was able to produce a copy of the new regulations, the only information available being what had appeared in the press and notifications various shopkeepers had received relative to the premises being “open.” In introducing the business of the meeting Mr Phillips said a petition had been circulated among the shopkeepers, and already it carried over 100 signatures, the majority those of general storekeepers. The petition was as follows : To the Hon. the Minister of Labour, — We, the undersigned, pray that you will consider with us tlie provisions of the new clauses under the Shops and Offices Act, curtailing the hours of keeping our places of business open. As our livelihood largely depends on our shop trade between tho hours of 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. every evening, and not employing outside labour in those hours, we, in mercy, pray that you will consider the provisions as set out in the new clauses of the said Act. Being in the majority in the trades affected of tho city of Dunedin and suburbs, we hereto append our signatures. One speaker quoted the authority of the member for Chalmers (Mr Dickson) for a statement that the clauses were passed in the dying hours of the session, and another mentioned that the member for Dunedin South (Mr Sidey) was unaware that St. Kilda was included in the schedule of districts. Strong comment was made relative to the apparent ignorance of members of the House in regard to what legislation was actually enacted, and the perniciods practice

of rushing things through at the last moment without due consideration or reference to public opinion. Mr H. Stephens moved: “That the Government be asked to alter the amended Shops and Offices Act to suit the general trades, as under this Act passed last session a great deal of hardship exists, and if it is carried out as at present constituted, it will mean that only tho large shopkeepers will remain in business.” Mr Stephens pointed out that among the number affected were many returned soldiers who were unable to perform hard manual labour, but who were quite capable of carrying on quiet little businesses of their own. There was not the slightest doubt that the best of ihe trade in many of the small suburban stores was transacted after 6 p.m. Mr Stephens also referred to the large number of widows who found their livelihood in such shops, and if the Act was enforced they would have to go out of business. He was quite sure that the majority of the public of New Zealand knew absolutely nothing about the provisions that were being put through the House to amend the Act, nor did the storekeepers till they got notice from the inspector to close up their shops. It was about time that the public generally, and the storekeepers in particular, stirred themselves up and showed that they were not going to be asleep all the time. The motion was eecondod by Mr Grant, and carried. A committee was set up to confer with local members of Parliament. With regard to the petition, further signatures were obtained, and as it was estimated that several hundreds must be available, it was decided to proceed with the obtaining of further names.