TIRED SHOP ASSISTANTS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11928, 23 October 1919, Page 8

TIRED SHOP ASSISTANTS.

United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copy rig lit.

Wellington, Oct. 23.

Representatives of the shop assistants of the Dominion interviewed the Prime Minister to-day and asked for amendements to the Shops and Offices Act, The deputation urged that a Bill be introduced to provide for a 44-hours week and for shops to close at 5.30 p.m. on five days in the week and at noon ou the sixth day. also that Easter Saturday be declared a statutory half holiday and Saturday a universal half holiday. The speakers levelled strong criticism at the administration of the seating and heating [regulations, one member ‘of the deputation complaining that the Labour Department had failed absolutely to enforce them.

Mr Massey, replying, said it would not be possible to make the amendments asked for this session, as all concerned could not be heard in time before the Labour Bills Committee, but he would try this session to have an amendment of the Act to give power to the Arbitration Court not only to fix the hours but also the closing hours of shops. Parliament must meet early next year and then the whole Act could be gone into. “