LABOUR LEGISLATION

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160739, 27 August 1920, Page 2

LABOUR LEGISLATION

QUESTION OF AMENDMENTS.. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 26. Revision of the Shops and Offices Act was sought by a deputation reprsentiug . shop assistants’ organisations throughout the Dominion, which interviewed the Minister of Labour to-day and askoi for a universal Saturday half-holiday and legislative authority for the Arbitration Court to fix shop hours.

In reply, Sir Wm. He-rries promised to submit the deputation’s views to the Government. He said that if he could be certain that the Saturday half-holi day was a popular proposal in the coun try, and that the people wanted it, ho would be glad to bring it forward. Mi Vcitch had made a proposal that a Commission should be set up to inquire into the Labour laws of the Dominion, but if the inquiry were to be taken now it would mean that a lot of amendments necessary at the moment would bo set aside until next session. Some legislation would bo brought down during the present session. Whether tho amendments to the law would go as far as Labour members wished he could not say, but he hoped they would be passed! All legislation would com© before the Labour Bills Committee, and on that committee Labour members would have au opportunity of suggesting amendments. He asked that they should not try to join on to his Bills amendments that members of their party had introduced as separate Bills curing tho session.