H—ll

(2) Annual Appointment op Statutory Closing-day (Half-holiday) por Shops Except where the closing-day has been fixed by a poll of electors, it is appointed each year by resolution of the local authority or, in the absence of a decision by a local -authority, by the Minister of Labour. The following changes -of closing-day occurred in the year under review : From "Wednesday to Saturday : Borough of Ross, Town of Hunterville, County of Waipa, County of Waitotara, County of Awatere, and County of Southland. From Thursday to Saturday : County of Cook and County of Whangamomona. From Wednesday to Friday : Road District of Ostend (Waiheke Island). (3) Amendment to the Act The Shops and Offices Amendment Act, 1946, came into operation on the 9th October, 1946. It provides a forty-hour week for assistants in hotels and The Court of Arbitration is empowered on the application of any party, by order in the case of an existing award or in any new award, to extend the hours to forty-four where it is of the opinion that it would be impracticable to carry on efficiently the business of the class of hotel or restaurant concerned, without such extension, but the time worked beyond forty hours is to be paid for at overtime rates—i.e., time and a half, with a minimum of Is. 6d. an hour. Extension of the weekly hours from forty to forty-four may be made up to the last day of June, 1947, but the forty-hour limit will apply after that date unless the extension has been authorized by the Court. It is further provided that where the parties to an industrial dispute agree concerning the employment of females in a restaurant for not more than an hour after 10.30 p.m. and this agreement is embodied in an award, a female over twenty-one may be so employed if satisfactory arrangements are made to convey her to her home after work. The Amendment Act also empowers the Governor-General, by Order in Council, to regulate the days and hours during which premises may be open for the sale of motorspirits, petrol, oil, and motor accessories. Pursuant to this provision the Motor-spirits Retail Hours Regulations 1946 were made (1946/201) and operated from Ist December, 1946, while the Oil Fuel Retail Hours Emergency Regulations (1942/181 and 1942/317), which were made during the war under the Emergency Regulations Act, were revoked by Order in Council (1947/33) on 12th March, 1947. SECTION S.—INDUSTRIAL CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION ACT, 1925 (1) The Court of Arbitration The work of the Court in making awards and in approving (for economic stabilization purposes) of industrial agreements may be summarized as follows :

There were in force, on 31st March, 1947, 583 awards and industrial agreements, which shows an increase on the total of 576 at 31st March, 1946.

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Year ended 31st March, 1946. 1947. Awards made 115 155 Industrial agreements approved 32 47 Amendments to existing awards or industrial agreements 427 30 Apprenticeship orders made 11 Amendments to existing apprenticeship orders ]L23 27 Miscellaneous documents (interpretations, enforcements, 59 54 &c.)