SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2360, 28 November 1908, Page 4

SHOPS AND OFFICES ACT.

f A COUIWpR '^RiACHES. At the _.Magi3jjß' < bje Court yesterday morning, W. A”. Barton, S.M., 'the of Factories (Mr. D. Carmody)jPrfJeteded against W. R. Brady, manager of the Gisborne Co-operative Supply Stores, on a charge of liaving, on the night of November 7th, failed to close his shop at 9 p.m. Defendant pleaded not guilty, and Mr. Carmody explained the circumstances, stating that about 10 o’clock on the might dm question he saw- an employee of the store conic out of the door with a box containing groceries. On being asked by- witness what he was doing, the youth said that he was delivering the parcels to customers. Witness then knocked at the door of the shop, and on being admitted asked defendant why he employed bis assistants so late. Defendant, giving evidence, stated that the door of tlie shop was closed sharp at 9 p.m., but some people were still left- in the shop. The door was merely opened to let- the assistant out, not to do business. To Mr. Carmody : The assistant was let out of the door to deliver parcels to customers. His Worship held that a breach had been committed. He would only inflict a nominal penalty of 10s, with 7s costs.

A SECOND CHARGE. The same defendant pleaded guilty to a further charge of having, on the night of November 9th, employed his shop assistants for more than half-an-hour after closing time (9 p.m.). He stated that as the shop would have to be closed on the following Monday, which was King’s Birthday, he was merely doing it to oblige liis customers mere than for the sake of doing business. He had no wish to evade the law. but the course he had taken was the only one open to him under the circumstances. His Worship pointed out that a breach of the- Act had been committed. He sympathised with defendant. but was compelled to administer the law as he found it. A penalty of 10s. with 7s costs, was imposed in this case also.