CLOSING OF SHOPS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 48, Issue 14610, 8 March 1922, Page 5

CLOSING OF SHOPS.

DURING CHRISTMAS WEEK. ministerial statement. Mr F. Norris, of The Gift House, Mastcrton, has received the following, letter from the Minister for Labour (Mr Anderson), on the question of closing shops during Christmas week.

“I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 26th ultimo on the above subject, and in reply to say that exemption from th e closing, hours can only be granted by a magistrate in cases where no assistants are employed. The question of the closing hours of*shops during Christmas week was carefuilv considered when the Shops and Offices Bill was before Parliament last session, and in the new Act which comes into force on April Ist next, provision is made to alow shopkeepers to observe the late night on any day of the week (except the statutory closing dav), and.keep open and employ assistants until 10 p.m. on that night, It is considered that this will enable all Christmas shopping to be done. With regard to your statement that the la was only applied to Mastcrton last Christmas, I have to advise you that your information is incorrect; the same conditions applied to all the principal and secondary towns throughout New Zealand.’■