SHOPS AND OFFICES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12603, 18 September 1905, Page 2

SHOPS AND OFFICES.

WHAT THE BILL MEANS

Tho Shops and Offices Bill has undergone so many changes since it first entered the House, and the process has extended over so long a period, that it will be interesting to give some explanation of tho form in which it has been sent to tho Legislative Council. In the first place, tho obnoxious section 3 of tho Act of 1904, compelling all shops to close at certain hours, has been repealed

In the case of shops in winch the hour for closing has been fixed by requisition a shop assistant must not be employed rafter the hour fixed for closing.

Assistants employed by bakers, booksellers, butchers, chemists, dairy produce sellers, florists, hairdressers, and tobacconists must not be employed after 11 p.m. on one working day in a week nor after 8 p.m. on other working days. Assistants employed by confectioners, fishmongers, fruiterers, pork butchers, and refreshment-room keepers may be employed till 11 p.m. on one working day and 10.30 on other working days.

The next provision relates only to

combined districts. Its effect is that assistants in shops other than those mentioned above shall not be employed after 11 p.m. on one day m the week and after 6 p.m. on other working days, if within throe months after the passing of tho Act the hours of closing have not been fixed by requisition. lnis provision will, however, not affect any requisition for the hours of closing gazetted under section 21 of the Act ot last year, nor will it affect the excepted shows (fishmonger, fruiterer, confectionei', refreshment room keeper, baker or bookstall-kee;:>er on a railway station or wharf), the occupiers of which, under section 15 of last year's Act, are not obliged to close on any working day. At the same time shop assistants in "all shops must not be employed more than 52 hours in a week, and must be given r. weekly half-holiday. The amended definition of "fishmonger" is '"'a person whose business is licensed to sell fish or shellfish ov rabbits.

Section 21 of the Act of 1904 is amended by providing that a throefifths (instead o fa bare) majority of the shopkeepers in a district is required to fix tho hours of closing. That section last yeav did not apply to the combined districts. Now it applies all over the colony. Woolbuyers, woolbrokers, and insrarance companies are now exempted from tho operation of section 23 of the Act of 1901, which compels offices to close at 1 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on other working days. Banks, buildings societie>s, harbour boards, merchants (including warehousemen), and municipal offices must keep an "extra-time book" showing which assistants, are employed after 1 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on other working days. When an assistant works more thin twenty hours' overtime in a month ho must be paid for every hour over ttventy at least one and a-half times tho ordinary rate o! pay. The extra-time book must always be open to tho inspection of the office- assistants and the Inspector of Factories. In consequence of the insertion; of tlivs provision, banks, building: societies,, harbour boards, merchants (including,warehousemen), and municipal, offices aafe ex- ■ empted from the operation' of section 27 of tho Act of 1904;, which is ow somewhat similar lines.

A refreshment room: where meals only are supplied does not come1 within the definition of "shop" in last year's Act.

Under section 22 of the- principaliAct .haAY^ers are deemed to-be "occup.iesjs.'' •An;.amendment of that section in> ithis Bilislimits its operation to a borough Oi* I^Avn: district.

A'l&jshop may keep open till 11 p.m onSßhristmaa Eve or New Year's Eise.

Except on Saturday night, Christmas EA'ej or' New Year's Eve, no female assistant under 21 years of age shall be employed in any shop after 9 p.m. TJiis doe* not apply to the occupier's Asife o: 1 the- members of his family.