SMALL SHOPKEEPERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20012, 1 December 1927, Page 6

SMALL SHOPKEEPERS

Sir, —The Parliamentary session new drawing to a close has been productive of much that will go a long way towards restoring conlidence in the party at present in. power. For many years, in the framing of our laws, the interests of the wealthier class have been consulted and those of humanity set aside. The recommendation of the Labour Bills Committee in its consideration of the Shops and Offices Act, that more freedom should be allowed the shop-keeper in th© opening of his shop, providing the assistants are not employed beyond the award hours, will remove what for a long time has been a serious injustice. It is true that, sine© 1920, the Arbitration Court has been empowered tn grant exemptions, but the influences at work have been disastrous to the applicant. Seldom has more than on© half hour been allowed, of litlte use to the suburban retailer.

The Opposition of the Labour Party to any relief being given the small business men and its desire to stifle individual effort are difficult to understand. Against its attitude, the statement made by the Minister of Labour before the House: “I maintain that the small man has a right to be pro tected and to have the same privilege; at any rate, as will enable him to estab lish and carry on a business,” comes a: a ray of sunlight after a dark cloud. Thousands of small businessmen and women throughout Now Zealand will be grateful to the Hon. Mr. G. J. Anderson in that h© has been courageous enough and honest enough to say and to ,;o what he considered to be the right thing. ARTHUR LYNNE, General Secretary, Small Shopkeepers Assn. November 28.