"CLOSED BY THE TYRANNY OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT."

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12398, 20 December 1909, Page 4

"CLOSED BY THE TYRANNY OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT."

This is the text of a notice which during tho evenings of the current week will conspicuously adorn the windows of Messrs H. I. Jones and Son's establishment, many years—indeed, from tlio very inception of the firm in the early days of Wanganui, it has been the.custom to afford the public increased facilities for the selection and purchase of Christmas gifts. This year, however, the Labour Department has . decreed that shutters must go up sharp to the time prescribed for ordinary trading days, and has flatly declined to grant the firm the necessary permit for an extension of hours during Christmas week. In a sense, of course, the samo prohibition applies to all other firms engaged in similar business, but it will only operate effectively in the case of this one firm. In the case or the other shops the proprietors will be able to dispense, with paid assistants, during the evening and carry on with tho.help of..members of their families. Henco Messrs H. I. Jones and Son will bo doubly penalised, and will be forced by the paternal State to suffer heavy pecuniary loss, in addition to the annoyance of being unable to meet the convenience of theh\ customers in tho usual, way. -The-two members of tho firm could not possibly unaided copo with the rush; of Christmas business in their large establishment, and not being in a position to secure the voluntary assistance which the statute ' has failed to prohibit, they must perforce close- their doors just when it would bo most profitable to them to keep them open. In past years the responsible officer of the Department has taken .an-equitable and common-sense view of the matter, and has granted a permit under the clause which allows of an extension of hours for what is defined as " special work." But this year tho Department lias seen fit to rule that keeping, open, for the convenience : of}the public during the evenings of Christmas week' cannot be regarded as " special work.'' The Department permitted the firm to work their assistants overtime during the evenings of last week for the purpose of arranging the goods and decorations tor their' Christmas fair. That was " special work "! But having allowed the firm to go to the trouble and ex- , pensa of preparing tor the fair, the Department insanely, and inequitably compels the closing of the shop just when the rush of business would be at its height and when all other similar shops will bo open and in full swing. All the assistants are ready and anxious .to work, and the firm is willing and anxious to J?ay them for their -extra work. But1 the Department says :." No!" Several citizens of Ijoth sexes . have volunteered to fill the breach, and so, in a practical way, show their sympathy for the firm and their indignation at tho injustice)-.to which; as reputable traders and considerate employers, they are being subjected. But the law will 'not n^rmit this wav out of the diffi-

eulty. We hold no brief for Messrs H. I. Jones and Son. Our remarks art) directed at the rottenness of a system which renders such a scandalous injustice possible in what is supposed to be a frea country. The prohibition in its broadest sense is an unwarrantable interference with legitimate business, and public convenience. In the "'peculiar' 'sense id which it affects-Messrs H. I. Jones and Son it is an outrage. And any other "firm • may at any time find itself in the same outrageous predicament. And the injustice not-only affects tho proprietors. If reacts directly on the employees, who no doubt look forward to the extra work of Christmas week to provide them witli additional pocket money'for the holidays. It ir. quite the" proper thing that tha law should reasonably protect women and children from overworking, but that the law should' restrain shopiron from employment of which they are desirous of availing themselves suggests that we have -reached the limit of legislative and administrative absurdity, especially when it is remembered that other men employed at other kinds of work in the same establishment are r>nt'tle(l to work as much overtime as they wish.