SHOP HOURS BILL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4715, 5 August 1893, Page 6

SHOP HOURS BILL.

MEETING OF SHOPKBBPEBS.

A meeting of shopkeepers of Christohnroh and suburbs was held at the Corn Exohange last evening, to protest against the compulsory olanees in tne Shop Hours Bill now before Parliament. There was an attendance of between fifty ahd sixty, and Mr C. P. Hulbert was voted to the chair. The Chairman, in opening the proceedinge, said that the employers had over and over again passed resolutions against the Shop Hours Bill, and had also sent petitions to Parliament. He explained the difference between the present Act and tho Bill now before Parliament. The most objeotionable olause wbb that whioh prqvidedfor compulsory closing on Saturdays, j He pointed out that tbe only persons whom it was proposed to exempt were restaurant and .eating-house keepers. He had been informed, on good authority, that the Labour ' Billa Committee would report favourably to making Saturday the day; with a provision giving local bodies the powe* to alter it when required. He remarked that it was quite likely that these bodies would not fairly represent the opinions of those most .interested, and it would scarcely be wise to leave the power in their hands. He asked why shopkeepers as a olass should have been seleoted for suoh tyrannical legislation. Was it not tyrannical to add a olanse giving power to put a man in gaol if he did not obey the Act and olose his shop ? He Was inclined to think this pettifogging legislation waa having a bad effeot on business generally, and was partly responsible for the lack, of employment. It was not %o , be expeoted that capitalists would invest money in " the preseht unsatisfactory state of things. The residents of the suburbs wiehed to do their! shopping on Saturdays, and if the shops in town were oloaed on that day it wpuld simply drive the business into the suburbs. The chop assistants would be the first sufferers, and if that class dared' to express their opinions they would declare against the alteration . of the day. There were only a few large flrma which did little business on Saturday which were in favour of the change, and if the Bill came into force it would mean a number of the smaller shops oloeing up- altogether.

Mr F. S. Malcolm (Messrs G. L. Beath and Co.) moved— "That the shopkeepers and retail rtraders of Christohurch .and suburbs strongly protest against the compulsory clause in the Shop Hours BUI now before Parliament, considering the came to-be unnecessary and tyrannical. They submit that the Act now in * force regelating-* the hours of. labour and providinpf holidays for shop assistants meets au requirements. They would further submit that as yet no proof haß been adduced as to the necessity for shopkeepers being speoially selected for suoh exceptional legislation." He said he had jnst returned from Wellington, and Messrs. Tanner and Sandford. who were members of the Labour Bills Committee, had informed him that they would be glad to have the opinion of: the shopkeepers co as to strengthen their hands in the matter. The general consensua of opinion in that city waa that the Bill would pass. To put the fixing of the day in the hands of the City Council would have a bad effeot on the Counoil, ahd would turn it into a political body. Daring the week he had spent in Wellington he had vißited the House, and had never, been so disgusted as, at the childish business and waste of time that went on then, aad he supposed, the whole session had been epent in tne same way. He wae sure the resolution would do good, as any recommendation going up from that meet* , ing would carry weight. Mr Stephen Powell, in seconding the motion, said he considered that the feelings of loyalty between the employees and their employers would be imperilled by the passing of the Bill. He spoke of the Bill as an infamous law, and said if it was passed it would reduce tradesmen to the lowest depths of . degradation. Mr, Delahunt wished to move an amendment to the effect that the Bill shonld be approved of. Saturday closing had been tried, and it would work satisfactorily if it were not for the greediness of a few Christohuroh tradesmen who had spoiled it. v The banks, business places and faotories closed on Saturday afternoon, and he did hot Bee why the shops could not do the same. The reason these men opposed the ohange was because the Christohnroh tradesmen were afraid the suburban shop* - keeperswouldgetafewoftheorombs. There waa now a growing xhonopoly, whioh was not to the benefit of society generally. He saw nothing *to fear in the Bill. If the matter were relegated to the looal bodies, they would have to eoneult the eleotors before acting. The employees were the bread-winners, and had a right to be considered. The Chairman remarked that the meeting had been called to oppose the present Bui. If the other side wanted to air its views, it shonld call a meeting of its own. Mr Hopkins did not come to oppose, bat bethought the Chairman's remarks were uncalled for. Personally he would like to see the law remain as it was. He thought it would be better for all to work together, and not allow any local jealousies to come in. Mr Thwaites, in seconding the amendment, said there was no evldenoe before them that any interests wonld suffer if the Bill were passed. Mr Toneyoliffe would sooner see compnl* : sory closing on Thursday, and wonld move td that effect at a later stage. He eaid compulsion was neoessary, as at present his firm loyally kept itß promise to close, j while other flrme close by kept their places open. Saturday would never answer j for the holiday. In busy timeß there was j as muoh done on Saturday afternoons as on j any other three days in the week. ' ' Mr Bobinson said, if the Bill passed, i fruiterers should be exempted, or it would ; mean ruin to many of them. He was in favour of the existing state of things. Mr T. Armstrong waa in favour of things j remaining as at present. He objected to ! anyone saying whether he should close or not. ' "•';'■, - : . ; Mr Hulbert wished to apologise to the suburban, shopkeepers if he bad said anything to annoy them. He thought tbey i should all be united in opposing the comj pulsory clauses. Shopkeepers were the j best judges of when to close, and if they j allowed the present Bill to pass he did not j know what might be done next. The j whole thing was merely a political dodge, and was not intended for any good purpose. j Waß it because they were so quiet and | interfered with no one that they were | singled out for this tyrannical legislation P > If they had been a political, agitating * crew tbey would not have been interfered j with. The present labour legislation waa disturbing all confidence. No man had a right to tell them to close their doors. The amendment was lost, only three hands being held up for it, and the motion waa carried. Mr Toneyoliffe then moved*— "Tkat if any day ba made compulsory it ehould be Thursday for Chrietchurch and suburbs." The motion was seconded by Mr Davideon, and carried. '.•:■- It was resolved— >" That the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to each member i of both Houses of the Legislature, with ; the request that they will . not aßsiat in . passing snch a measure, whioh will not : only deprive a very large number of their ; liberty as citizens, but will also act dis- | astrously to a considerable portion of small j traders." A vote of thanks to the Chairman, and a colleotion to defray expenses, closed the meeting.