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I. BEVRBIDGK.

55. The Chairman.] You do give a holiday a week to those engaged in celling Liquor! i'es, the\ have Sunday of! and a lialf-holiday besides, 56. Those employed in the pari of the hotel tliat is governed by the license get the privilege of ii day and a hall' a week off?— Yes. 57. Now. referring to the closing of the hotel absolutely ou Sunday, if it were possible, there would not be anj' loss in dosing the remainder of the hotel on the .Sunday.'—There would be a slight loss, but not the loss there would be if we had to put on an extra staff. To close the whole hotel would be the leasi evil. 58. What limit do you suggest with regard to the exemptions I—l1 — 1 would not have any limit at all. 59. What about the people who have a small place like a private boardinghouse where there is v widow and ohildren t—You are bringing up the widov* again. 60. They exist .' -Yes. that is so. and that is an unfortunate condition. I would not like to venture to suggest any remedy, because if we are going to make exemptions that is where the tremble will come in. (ii. //o//. Mr, Massey.] It is a fact thai a number of widows keep boardinghouses in order lo enable them to make a living/—Yes, but they do not last very long. They keep coming and going, and then start afresh somewhere else. It is very hard to make a living in a boardinghouse now. A woman came to me and said she had a chance of taking a hoardinghouse with thirteen hoarders at a cost of ,£250. including furniture, and 1 found on looking into the matter, and allowing nothing for depreciation of the furniture and house, that she would make under £ I per week at the v<v\ outside. Unless a place has got over a maximum number of guests it is hard for them to make it pay. C>2. Then, would it not be a hardship to make the provisions of this Kill apply to them? — Yes. but we all have to be considered. 63. Mr. Grenfett.~\ Your idea is that all those who employ assistants should come under tinprovisions of the Bill? —Yes. 64. That would not affect widows? — No. ('>.">. Mr. GareyJ\ The fifty hands you employ are employed towards promoting the profit of ilie business? —-Certainly. 66. ITie domestic employed as a nurse-girl or a handy maid in a private house is not employed towards promoting the profit of the household) —This Mill is not dealing with profits. (>7. Is a girl in that case doing sol —No. You say you want all people to be brought under the same conditions as this l!ill proposes to bring hotelkeepers? — Yes. 69. Are you prepared yourself to be brought under the same conditions —the fifty-two hours per week? —Let them all be brought under the game scope as this Bill proposes, and we will agree to come in on the same conditions. 70. Then I understand yon to say that if this Bill will bring all workers to six days a week you will agree with it? —Yes. 71. You say it is unfair for some to be singled out? —Yes. 72. Is it fair for hotelkeepers to have the privilege of employing assistants for six and eight hours a week longer than others? —Certainly. The law says we must keep open for the twenty four hours to meet the exigencies of the travelling public. We have to keep them there day and night, and we have to be there for people who may come in at any time. The shops close at a certain time, and there is an end of it. 73. Merely because a hotel has to he kept open the assistants must lie employed longer than any of the shop-assistants?— Yes. 74. Who owns the Grand Hotel?— Hamilton Gilmer. 75. What rent do you pay?—l do not think that is a fair question. If there was a Fair Kent Mill brought in that would help us considerably. I am prepared, if necessary, to answer the question. I pay a rent of .£75 per week. 76. The hardship is really on the rent?— That is one of the factors, 77. You suggested that this matter should lie left to the Arbitration Court?— Yes. 78. Would you oppose the concession of giving one day a week holiday if the matter was considered by the Arbitration Court? —Well, Ido not know. Ido not think I would. 79. Did you oppose the giving of the half-holiday when we asked for it? —Certainly, ami the Judge would not giant it. 80. The award in Sydney is a Wages Board award?— The employees get half a day under one Act and half under another. 81. But a whole holiday is given by tin . Board .' —Yes, it is by agreement. There are no casual waiters in Wellington because there is not enough work to keep them oasually employed?- I do not know the reason. 83. How often would you want a casual waiter.' Not often. Mγ staff has stuck pretty close to me. 84. You do not expect a waiter to remain about for casual work to suit your business?— No. I would not expect that. 85. None of your bar-assistants are employed on the Sunday?—No, except the one barman. 86. You are interested in the Clarendon Hotel in ('hristchurch ?—Yes. fl. Has the management there been in the habil of giving one full day a fortnight instead of half a day a week?—Y T es. prior to my taking it over. 88. Has it worked all right?- No, ii did not. 89. Mr. Davey.] Does the amount you pay for rent cover rates too? —No, I pay rates and tuxes, which amount to nearly £100 a year in addition,

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