SUBURBAN SHOP HOURS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17573, 25 June 1925, Page 7

SUBURBAN SHOP HOURS.

MINISTER AND BRIGHTON DEPUTATION. That no Court or provision of the law should override the opinion of the people, was the view expressed by the Minister of Labour (the lion G. J Anderson), replying to a deputation of New Brighton shopkeepers yesterday morning. 1 he deputation sought the assistance t>! the Minister in regard to the weekly half-holiday. It was stated that the people of New Brighton, the Christchurch seaside resort, desired Wednesday as the shopping half-holiday, and the shopkeepers also preferred Wednesday, because of the number of visitors to the suburb on Saturday afternoon. The Arbitration Court, however, stimulated in its award that the shops should be closed on Wednesday as well as on Saturday, provided that if the shopkeepers elected to close on Saturday they would not be obliged to close on Wednesday. The matter has been the subject of appeal, but without redress to the shopkeepers. The deputation made a strong point of the fact that the people's wish had been nullified bv the Court. The Minister stated that it was impossible for him to vary the Court’s decision. “It is quite possible,” ie said, “ that we may be able to effect an amendment to the Shops and Offices Act this session, because there have been a number of clauses inserted in awards which have created very much worry amongst the people concerned. The Act lavs down certain hours during which shops should close, but the Court has power to vary that, and it has done so. This has caused trouble in some cases. T can't alter the awards of the Court. It would be wrong for me to attempt to do so. and I would not be a party to such a thing. It would be much the same as legislating to alter a decision of the Supreme Court.” Tf it was laid down in the Act that the half-holiday was to be observed generally on a certain day, an injustice would be done to many people, including the farmers, who preferred to come to town on Saturday. In cases where the holf-holidav was decided upon by a poll of the people, that decision should stand, and he dil not think the Arbitration Court should be able to affect it. Mr Anderson said he would consider the question, and consult Cabinet upon the possibility of altering the law in respect to people such as shopkeepers, so that when the people expressed a preference their decision should not be overridden by any other power.