Post by nzbc on Jun 11, 2016 22:08:25 GMT 12
SHOP AND SHOP ASSISTANTS.
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7160, 18 December 1894, Page 2
The third section of the Shop and Shop Assistants Act 1894 is as follows All shops in a city, borough, or town district^ except those wherein is carried on exclusively one or more of tho businesses of a fishmonger, a fruiterer, a confectioner, a coffee house keeper, an eating house keeper, or the keeper of a buok-stall on h railway platform, shall bo closed each week on the afternoon of one working day at the hour of one of the clock." Thus every shopkeeper, with the exception of those carrying on the businesses specified, will have to close one afternoon in the week. How will the section aflVct the tradespeople here 1 The confectioners who deal solely in lollies will be able to keep open, and those who sell confectionery, fruit, and fish. Similarly, eating-house proprietors will not have to close their establishments if their sole business if» catering for the wants of the public by supplying meals. It ia, however, well known that there are few establishments in Gisborne where tho businesses mentioned in the section are exclusively conducted. Some of the confectioners and restaurant keepers also sell groceries, and the vendors ot fruit and fish deal in fancy goods nnd other articles. It is quite clear that under existing circumstances nearly every eating house keeper, fruiterer, and lollie seller will have to c!oS8 which will eutail considerable loss to them, fi6 well as inconvenience to holiday-makers who are seized with a desire to purchase fruit, or to visitors desiring to be supplied with light refreshments. It is singular that while the keeper of a bookstall is exempt from closing, news agents in cities ar boroughs are not. This omission will cause public inconvenience and private loss. Nearly ail stationer!) in the colony ?ire also news agents, and have regular customers. If the Act is enforced, those who have been accustomed for convenience to get their evening papers from a stationer's will have to either obtain fhem at the newspaper offices, chance buying them from the runners, or go without them altogether on the afternoon selected for closing under the Act. Under any cirouinatances tho stationers will be losers. The interpretation of shop is rather carious. Shop means any building or portion of a building or place ie which
goods are exposed or offered for sale by retail, but does nofc include a shop the business whereof is bona fide owned and oonducted by any person of New Zealand or European extraction, whether solely or with the assistance of members of his or her family below the age of 18 years who reside on the premises. According to this, if the proprietor of a shop carries on his business without the aid of assistants who are not members of his family, if he does not reside on the premises, he must close in accordance with the provision? of the Act. The fact of his residence being situated at a distance of a few yards from hia place of business prevents his being allowed to keep open. The definition was made in the interests of small shopkeepers, bub wo do not think that a sentimental reason should have been allowed to mould the Act in such a way as to cause injustice to anyone. If it is right that shops should close one afternoon in the week, the principle should be universally enforced. Under the law as it now stands, the draper, grocer, ironmonger, saddler, stationer, or other tradesman who does not reside on the rlrernises but who employs assistants will have to close, while the shopkeepors who live on the premises, and carry on their business with the assistance of members of their families can remain opon. It will be noticed that the term shop does not apply to wholesale warehouses, and that the Chinese (not being persons of New Zealand or European extraction) are nofc exempt under this remarkable interpretation clause -and will not be able to keep open, even though they "reside on the premises," and conduct their business with or without members of their family under 18 years of age." It seems to us, that in consequence of the interests of shopkeepers and shop assistants not being identical, it is absolutely impossible to frame an Act which can satisfactorily suit the requirements of both parties. In these not very flourishing times, shopkeepers often have considerable trouble in paying their way. They have rant, wages, insurance, expenses of living and other charges to provide for, and to compel them to close for half a day in each week, where such a course is contrary to their inclinations, is to handicap them still further. That it is advisable employes should have a halfholiday once a week is admitted, though the necessity is not so apparent in small towns as it is in large cities, sleeper the work is harder, and the conditions surrounding them more trying to the constitution. If the employe's wero allowed to bavo half-holiday once in each week, it surely could be arranged without compelling their employers to close their shops on the sniiie dny mi well. Moreover, why should the public bo restricted as to tho time when they can purchase the commodities they require No doubt the intention of the Legislature was to benefit shop assistants, but if the Act designed for that purpose is found to hamper their employers, it will be more likely to injure than improve their condition, as it is evident that unless the employer can conduct his business remuneratively, he cannot be liberal to hia assistants, neither can he afford to avail himself of their services. Tho Shop and Shop Assistants Act of 1892 worked badly, simply for the reason that the public would not co-operate with the tradespeople in observing its provisions. Whether tho Act passed last session, which comes into force on January Ist will be more satisfactory in its operation remains to be seen, but judging from its numorous anomalies, it is very doubtful whether it will not give even more dissatisfaction than its predecessor. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=PBH18941218.2.8.1&srpos=47&e=-------100--1----0gisborne+chinese+fruiterer--
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7160, 18 December 1894, Page 2
The third section of the Shop and Shop Assistants Act 1894 is as follows All shops in a city, borough, or town district^ except those wherein is carried on exclusively one or more of tho businesses of a fishmonger, a fruiterer, a confectioner, a coffee house keeper, an eating house keeper, or the keeper of a buok-stall on h railway platform, shall bo closed each week on the afternoon of one working day at the hour of one of the clock." Thus every shopkeeper, with the exception of those carrying on the businesses specified, will have to close one afternoon in the week. How will the section aflVct the tradespeople here 1 The confectioners who deal solely in lollies will be able to keep open, and those who sell confectionery, fruit, and fish. Similarly, eating-house proprietors will not have to close their establishments if their sole business if» catering for the wants of the public by supplying meals. It ia, however, well known that there are few establishments in Gisborne where tho businesses mentioned in the section are exclusively conducted. Some of the confectioners and restaurant keepers also sell groceries, and the vendors ot fruit and fish deal in fancy goods nnd other articles. It is quite clear that under existing circumstances nearly every eating house keeper, fruiterer, and lollie seller will have to c!oS8 which will eutail considerable loss to them, fi6 well as inconvenience to holiday-makers who are seized with a desire to purchase fruit, or to visitors desiring to be supplied with light refreshments. It is singular that while the keeper of a bookstall is exempt from closing, news agents in cities ar boroughs are not. This omission will cause public inconvenience and private loss. Nearly ail stationer!) in the colony ?ire also news agents, and have regular customers. If the Act is enforced, those who have been accustomed for convenience to get their evening papers from a stationer's will have to either obtain fhem at the newspaper offices, chance buying them from the runners, or go without them altogether on the afternoon selected for closing under the Act. Under any cirouinatances tho stationers will be losers. The interpretation of shop is rather carious. Shop means any building or portion of a building or place ie which
goods are exposed or offered for sale by retail, but does nofc include a shop the business whereof is bona fide owned and oonducted by any person of New Zealand or European extraction, whether solely or with the assistance of members of his or her family below the age of 18 years who reside on the premises. According to this, if the proprietor of a shop carries on his business without the aid of assistants who are not members of his family, if he does not reside on the premises, he must close in accordance with the provision? of the Act. The fact of his residence being situated at a distance of a few yards from hia place of business prevents his being allowed to keep open. The definition was made in the interests of small shopkeepers, bub wo do not think that a sentimental reason should have been allowed to mould the Act in such a way as to cause injustice to anyone. If it is right that shops should close one afternoon in the week, the principle should be universally enforced. Under the law as it now stands, the draper, grocer, ironmonger, saddler, stationer, or other tradesman who does not reside on the rlrernises but who employs assistants will have to close, while the shopkeepors who live on the premises, and carry on their business with the assistance of members of their families can remain opon. It will be noticed that the term shop does not apply to wholesale warehouses, and that the Chinese (not being persons of New Zealand or European extraction) are nofc exempt under this remarkable interpretation clause -and will not be able to keep open, even though they "reside on the premises," and conduct their business with or without members of their family under 18 years of age." It seems to us, that in consequence of the interests of shopkeepers and shop assistants not being identical, it is absolutely impossible to frame an Act which can satisfactorily suit the requirements of both parties. In these not very flourishing times, shopkeepers often have considerable trouble in paying their way. They have rant, wages, insurance, expenses of living and other charges to provide for, and to compel them to close for half a day in each week, where such a course is contrary to their inclinations, is to handicap them still further. That it is advisable employes should have a halfholiday once a week is admitted, though the necessity is not so apparent in small towns as it is in large cities, sleeper the work is harder, and the conditions surrounding them more trying to the constitution. If the employe's wero allowed to bavo half-holiday once in each week, it surely could be arranged without compelling their employers to close their shops on the sniiie dny mi well. Moreover, why should the public bo restricted as to tho time when they can purchase the commodities they require No doubt the intention of the Legislature was to benefit shop assistants, but if the Act designed for that purpose is found to hamper their employers, it will be more likely to injure than improve their condition, as it is evident that unless the employer can conduct his business remuneratively, he cannot be liberal to hia assistants, neither can he afford to avail himself of their services. Tho Shop and Shop Assistants Act of 1892 worked badly, simply for the reason that the public would not co-operate with the tradespeople in observing its provisions. Whether tho Act passed last session, which comes into force on January Ist will be more satisfactory in its operation remains to be seen, but judging from its numorous anomalies, it is very doubtful whether it will not give even more dissatisfaction than its predecessor. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=PBH18941218.2.8.1&srpos=47&e=-------100--1----0gisborne+chinese+fruiterer--