I.—9a.

20

[h. bolitho.

4. Hon. Mr. Massey.\ Does it not cover restaurants only I —No, it does not do that. It comes under the definition of " hotel. , ' .">. Is not that in the present Act?— There are no such words as " desire to lodge therein " in the old Act. That would appear to be an insertion. At any rate it is very vague, and would cover a wider interpretation. Then, again, in the case of the definition of " occupier," a little further down, there is no provision in it covering an auctioneer's license. His license will allow him to sell any article when all the other shops are closed. 6. Do you wish auctioneers included?— Yes. 7. The Chairman.} How about the man who sells furniture! —Yes, if he sells Furniture he should close also. 8. Hon. Mr. Massey.] Does not the clause include auctioneers? —It may do so; but 1 think if it is stated on an auctioneer's license that he can sell at certain times, the license will carry. 9. There has been al bast one decision on the point, and it has been ruled that this applies to auctioneers. It is exactly the same as in the old Act?- Well, it is worded a bit different this time. 10. No, it is worded exactly the same. Also, with regard to the clause respecting hotels and restaurants, the wording regarding the point you mentioned is exactly the same.' Well, according to that a man can go to a restaurant and, though " desiring to lodge therein," lie need not stop there at all, and yet he can purchase goods there. 11. I will read the definition of " restaurant " as it appears in the present Act: "A ' restaurant' means any premises (other than a hotel) in which meals are provided and sold to the general public for consumption on the premises, and whether or not lodging is provided for hire for the accommodation of persons who desire to Lodge therein, and includes a tea-room and an oyster-saloon." It is exactly the samel Well, according to thai a lodger, or an intending lodger, can get whatever he likes. Further down, under the definition of "shop," it states. " ' Shop ' means any building or place in which goods are kept or exposed or offered for sale, or in which any par! of the business of the shop is conducted, and includes a Hotel and a restaurant, but does not include a warehouse doing exclusively a wholesale business." Now, there is no definition of "wholesale business" in the Bill or the Act. and nowhere is " warehouse" defined. Then, with respect to clause •'!, " Every shop shall be registered with an Inspector by the occupier or occupiers thereof in the name of the occupier or of one of the occupiers, and such registration shall not be altered except for some sufficient reason to the satisfaction of the Inspector." This clause is a wiy drastic one. It is making it a personal matter with the Inspector. Inspectors do not have all the same opinions ami give the same rulings. Suppose a man wants to come to Wellington, as 1 have had to do to give evidence before this Committee, and has to leave suddenly; or supposing a man i< taken sick at his home, how is he going to get hold of the Inspector 1 12. Mr. Davey.~\ Is not there a place where you can register in Auckland? —Yes; but if you are away from your business Tor twenty-four hours you are liable to be fined. You cannot leave anybody in charge without going along to the Registrar. 13. Hon. Mr. Massey.] That, has been in force?—] know it has been in force. I would be liable to be fined for being down here. I was h'ned once. 14. That is practically the law now?— Practically; but it wants altering in a new Shop Hours Hill, and I think it should be altered. I think there should be a limit o\ twenty-four hours. Twenty-four hours should be enough to give notice to the Inspector of anything that might happen urgently. If you give notice to the Inspector within twenty-four hours that ought to cover it. Ido not think it should be left in the hands of the Inspector. That would be a bit drastic. 15. You think you should be able to leave your business for twenty-four hours without notifying the Inspector? —Yes, that is right. Then, under clause 5, subclause (4), re hours of employment, read in conjunction with the definition of " chemists " under subclause (5), should it Tiot be necessary to mention the matter of examinations? The definition of a chemist reads as follows : " ' Chemist ' means a person whose business is to sell medicines, drugs, chemicals, herbal remedies, patent foods, surgical appliances, toilet requisites, or photographic requisites." You will notice there is-the item "toilet requisites" included. Then when you come to the definition of a hairdresser, this reads as follows: " 'Hairdresser' means.a person whose business is to carry on hairdressing, or shaving, or to sell requisites for hairdressing or for shaving." Under the definition of chemist it states "toilet requisites," and under the definition of hairdresser it states "requisites for hairdressing or shaving." I would like to know where the line can be drawn. 16. It seems to me they overlap. I here is some overlapping there, I think .'-There would appear to be. Then, with reference to clause IT. subclause («). you will notice that book-stall keepers are not defined anywhere in the Bill, and this has been always admitted as one of the flaws in the present Act, making the business a personal matter instead of the goods sold, and I think it wrong to mention in the Act any business without defining the same. Next I come to clause 18, with respect to holidays. Under this clause no provision is made for parliamentary by-elections. When the election of Auckland City East for a member to take the place of the late Frederick Baume, Esq., M.P., was held the shops on one side of the street had to close while the shops on the other side remained open, although many assistants had to get a holiday who had no votes in the electorate, and many who had votes had to work on the side that remained open. Now I would like you to look at clause 24, subclause (7). This is with respect to closing by requisition. It states, "It shall not lx? lawful for the occupier of any shop (other than a hotel or restaurant) in a district to which any requisition relates to sell or deliver goods of any description commonly sold in shops to which the requisition relates after the hour at which those shops are required to be closed pursuant to such requisition." You will notice that it does not define the hour of starting to sell or deliver goods; and also, when the clause is read in conjunction with clause 2, which contains the words, " of persons who desire to lodge, therein." as I before