SHOPS AND OFFICES BILL

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXVIIII, Issue 32, 6 December 1940, Page 2

SHOPS AND OFFICES BILL

TO BE REMODELLED. WELLINGTON, Last night. A hope that a draft of the bill consolidating the Shops and Offices Act would be prepared and submitted for the consideration of the parties concerned before Christmas was expressed yesterday by the Minister of Labor, Mr P. C. Webb, in an interview.

Asked if the proposals contained in the draft would be made public, Mr Webb answered: “No. I hope not. An open controversy on the clauses of the bill would militate against the spirit of harmony which I hope will prevail when the bill is being discussed on its merits by the conference to be held. If full agreement cannot be obtained on any clause, compromise may be effected. “I realise that a bill of this kind always raises many contentious matters,” Mr Webb said. “Consequently, it is my opinion that any proposed amendments to the Shops and Offices Act should be thoroughly investigated in order that we may gain a full knowledge of what the reaction to industry would mean, particularly during the war period when the Empire is lighting for its existence.”