IMPORTANT DECISION.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15027, 22 March 1919, Page 5

IMPORTANT DECISION.

AFFECTS ALL BUSINESSES.

EARLY CLOSING ACT TESTED

COnxied Pbebs Association.^

Wellington, March 22. in the Magistrate's Court JoKh Symonds,. butcher,' was. charged with failing to close his premises in. accordance with the requisition. In giving his decision, Mr S. H. Frazer, S.M. referred to the definition "evening/ and the stand taken by a magistrate in the South, who decided that the amendment made in the legislation was ineffective.- In his opinion the amendment validated all the requisitions for 5 o'clock closing, and had put right the defect in the "law as. determined by Sir R. Stout in his decision in the case of liouldsworth v. Lightfoot. The defendant: appeared to carry on a combined business, and it 'was.difficult to classify the two classes. In his opinion the matter was worthy of revised legislation, as the distinction drawn between the two trades appeared illogical and absurd. In Auckland by agreement the system adopted by combined Butchers was to put their ordinary meat in the freezer at 5 p.m.., This was an easy solution of the difficulty. The defendant had committed a breach of the Act, and twould be fined £2 and costs.

For a similar offence Howard, and Tilyard were fined £2 and costs.