SOME MODIFICATIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19026, 28 May 1936, Page 11

SOME MODIFICATIONS

SHOPS AND OFFICES BILL PAYMENT OF OVERTIME COSTS AND PRICES (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The House of Representatives to-day resumed discussion on the. committal of the Shops and'Offices Amendment Bill. Mr. S. G. Smith (Nat., New Plymouth) thought the bill was a little less harmful that, the other Labour measures that had preceded it, 'but there were still one or two clauses which he thought the Minister would be well advised to modify. He appealed to the "Minister t< see that, when that and the other twe measures were in full operation, there would not ho a period of intense irritation by an army of inspectors trying to create a record in the number of prosecutions rather than do the fair thing between employer and employee The Hon. A. Hamilton (Nat., Wal laco) said he doubted if solicitors’ clerks and bank clerks would he any better of under the bill than they were at pres cut. He thought, they would lose some of their present privileges. He had. heard no complaints from clerks in solicitors’ offices and banks, nor anything, to suggest that they wanted better conditions He suggested' that tHe 'banks should be placed on a fortnightly basis instead of the 40-hour week. He welcomed the amendment, extending the time to not more than five hours in the case of shoj assistants before a meal hour was given He (bought that would' be a great con venience. Ho contended that, compulsory dosing at noon on the half holiday would be an inconvenience to the public.

MANY CONCESSIONS MADE The Hon. 11. T. Armstrong, in reply, said the people had had ample time tc make themselves acquainted with the provisions of the Hill and it could not ho said that the legislation had' heoi hurried through. He did not think any previous Minister had made as many con cessions as he had and that showed h< had listened to the representations mad( to him. As he had said before, it was the .unscrupulous employer they had tc legislate against ; otherwise there would be no need for shops and offices, legislation at all. The provision limiting tin payment of overtime to employees receiving less than G3OO a year had been found to be an anomaly and bad 1 beer removed. The bill was on the lines. of (lie recommendations of the commission set up five or six years ago to go intr conditions in shops and offices but it die not go as far as those recommendations The second reading was passed. In committee, speaking, on the short title. Mr. S. 0. Holland (Nat., Chcb. N.. expressed appreciation at the Minister s decision to exempt solicitors’ offices from the hours provisions, lawyers would be much relieved.

Mr. Hamilton suggested that, soim limit should be placed on the limit nuclei which overtime, should be paid, as, with the Minister’s amendment, it wouK apply to a man getting £IOOO a year. Mr. Smith 1 asked 'the Mini'i'er to discuss with the Minister of Education ;pc position of persons in country districts who provided meals for schoo children where hostels did not exist. If they were to he brought under the I,ill. it' might mean hardship to the children.

COSTS .MUST INO BLASE.

The Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes said a natural increase in prices following increased costs due to the operation of the bill must be allowed to gi ahead. The Government could no. hope to prevent' it, or it would men) ruin to traders. The Rt. Hon. ,T. G. Coates said tin Governments bad overlooked the fac that n would be impossible to inctmisi costs above world prices. Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Nut. Otago C.) said that, stock and station agents hat. to maintain ollices and stalls at big saleyards and the provisions of the. bill would apply to them. He sug\ gested that the Minister should spent (ically exempt ollices at saleyards. He also asked for consideration for the auctioning of fruit in the evenings during the season. The lion. F. Langstone said that wluit was wanted was organisation. All the people wanted was a lead. The Opposition was in a rut ami he wa:thankful the Government had .sufficient leverage to push it out of the rut. Mr. 11. M. Christie (I.ab. Waipawa) said the bill did not. affect auctioneers, but did affect auctioneers’ clerks, and, if a clerk worked overtime at a sale, he must bo paid tor it. The Opposition was imagining many things that were not in the bill. The short title was passed after throe hours’ discussion.

Mr. Holland moved an amendment to clause .1, with the object of permitting shop assistants to work five hours instead of 41 hours before tlio interval given for a meal. Mr. Armstrong explained that ho had an amendment which provided for live hours without an interval in cases where an employer allowed 10 minutes’ rest every three hours, and Mr. Holland withdrew the amendment.

AM LXDMENTS REJECTED. Mr. Hamilton moved an amendment to Clause (i to allow employees to work 100 hours overtime in a year instead of 00 as provided in the bill. The amendment was lost on the voices. Mr. Holland moved a further amendment to the effect that, where a shop or office was more than live miles distant from an inspector's office, notice that overtime had been worked could be given withiu ff 4 hours. He said the amendment would overcome the difficulty ,o£ shopkeepers in the country who were not within easy reach of an inspector and who could not, therefore, obtain a permit before overtime was worked. Mr. Armstrong said that in nearly every town there was at lefist an agent of the Labour Department, who could issue a permit and it was almost impossible to get more than live miles away from an inspector or agent. He said the department would always adopt a reasonable attitude and the telephone or mail could be used. The amendment was lost on the voices. At this stage progress was reported.