DOMINION TELEGRAMS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 57, 8 March 1913, Page 5

DOMINION TELEGRAMS.

THE CUNNING CHINEE.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, March 7

The Chinese shopkeepers apparently enjoy one advantage over their Caucsian brethren of the craft in being legally entitled' to sell cigarettes aftei the hour at which tobacconists close. Two Chinamen were charged to-day In the Labour Department Inspector with having sold cigarettes “after hours.” Counsel for defence contended that subsection 8, of section 25, of the Shops and Offices Act, 1908, made it illegal for the occupier of any shop to sell tobacco or cigarettes after certain hours, but subsection 5 of the same section placed a modified interpretation on the word “occupier,” limiting it to include only British subjects. Defendants in this case were not British subjects, therefore did not come undei the Act. The Magistrate, Mr Biddell, upheld the contention and dismissed the case.