H. BOLITHO.]

I.—9i.

explained, it will in my opinion create a bit of an anomaly. Unfler this subclause it states, " It shall not be lawful for the occupier of any shop " to sell goods after the hour at which those shops are required to be closed, while under clause 2, goods can be sold at a restaurant to am , man who may " desire to lodge therein " after those hours. 17. Mr. Davey.] Will you explain?—A man whose intention is to lodge there can l)e supplied, while the shop engaged in a particular business is closed, such as a tobacconist. At hotels or restaurants a man could be served at 6 in the morning, while the tobacconist cannot open till 8. His requisition says he must not start selling till 8, or whatever the case may be. while the other man is outside that requisition altogether. 18. You hold that if a man states when he goes to a restaurant that lie proposes to lodge therein that they can sell tobacco to him or anything else ?—Yes. 19. I/on. Mr. Massey.] I do not think that is so. " ' Restaurant means any premises (other than a hotel) in which meals are provided," Ac. That does not give the right to the proprietor to sell goods?— Well, in that requisition of ours it distinctly states the hours we must open and close, while at the hotels and restaurants they can practically sell cigars and cigarettes at any time. And the same thing applies to clause 32. 20. Naturally, if a man is living in a hotel he can get a cig-ar or cigarettes, but if the proprietor sells to an outsider lie is breaking the law? —Yes. but how are you going to get a conviction? Who is going to lay the information) Who is going to prore that he is nut a lodger? Who is going to turn himself into an informer! 1 do nut think then is anything more 1 have to add, but I would like to endorse what Mr. Coleman lias said with regard to our requisition. That is a thing we really want protecting. 21. You agree with the views expressed by Mr. Coleman? —Yes. There is another matter I bad forgotten. 1 hope that chemists will not l>e allowed to remain open for the two hours on their half-holiday. In the old Act it states that they can do so, but in the new Kill it is not mentioned. In my evidence this morning I overlooked to mention an item not provided for in the proposed Shops and Offices Hill. The item in question is fishing tackle. I intended to state that lishing tackle was stocked in great numbers of tobacconists' simps in localities where fishing was (•allied on. and was sold practically for only three months of tin 1 year. So with the consent of the Chairman and members of tin . Labour Bills Committee 1 should like the suggestion that special privileges should be allowed the sale of fishing tackle.

Tuesday, 12tb Aogi st, 1913. William Galloway examined. (No. II.) 1. Mr. Davey (Acting-Chairman). J What are you? —Chef at the People's Palace. Wellington. 2. Will you state in your own way what you wish to bring before the Committee?—l have been chef at the People's Palace for two years. The staff there consists of twenty-one altogether. Since 1 1>10 the females have been getting one day off per week, and the men have been getting one <la\ off per week since last November. In the kitchen 1 work my sculleryman five days and a half every week. The third cook 1 work six days a week. The second cook I work six days mie week and five days and a half the next week. And the same with myself—l work five days and a half one week and six days the next. There are four of us in the kitchen, anil it' we did not have the day off I think for the best part of the year there would be four in the kitchen just the same. The place is doing a very big trade. •!. Is there any other statement you wish to make? —Since we had the day off there has been no hitch; the arrangement has worked very satisfactorily. There has been no trouble whatever. I. I do not quite understand what you are suggesting. Do you mean to say that you think there is no necessity for the provisions in the present amending Bill -that the present condition is all that could be desjred?—l do not know the Bill. 5. Hon. Mr. Massey.] Under the present system how many hours per week do you work? — Fifty-eight hours a week. 6. Are you speaking generally or for yourself?— Generally, for the male department. The females work fifty-two hours and the males fifty-eight. 7. Under the previous system —before the alteration was made to six days a week- what were the hours worked per week?— Sixty-two hours per week. 8. What has happened has been really a reduction of four hours?— Yes. 9. Mr. Ye.itch.] The People's Palace is not a licensed house, is it?—lt is a private hotel. 10. A temperance hotel? —Yes. 11. How do you arrange for the days off?—l arrange in this way: Take myself—the evening before my day off I generally prepare little things that I can get ready for the second cook, and the second cook takes my place while I am off. Then the third cook takes the second cook's place, and so on. 12. Notwithstanding the fact that the staff get a day off every week, you have been able to compete and carry on your business successfully ?--That is so. 13. Bon. Mr. Massey.] How are the wages as compared with those paid at other establishments? —I get £3 15s. ; the second co6k gets £2 55.; the third cook £1 7s. 6d. : and the scullery man £1 ss. 14. Mr. Veitch.] That is. with board and lodging? —Yes. On the day off we get our meals just the same 15. Mr. Long.] At the People's Palace you are working under an award, are you not? You are bound by the private hotel's award, are you not?— Yes.

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