I.—9a.

96

[J. GODBEE.

not allowed to keep open after half past 9. The schedule allows us to keep open to half past 10 or 11, so it would be impossible to keep on a business like ours if these restrictions are made. I would respectfully urge, gentlemen, that you would provide a clause to the effect that in cases like ours, where people have to come through the shop to get to the restaurant and tea-room part of it in the evening (as it is impossible to close the shop and the restrictions are such that we cannot keep any female in the shop after half past 9 at night, although the clause reads that we can keep the shop open as a confectioner till half past 10), that in these cases —where the shop and restaurant are combined —the shop shall be deemed a restaurant and not a shop. The shop should be deemed a restaurant (in the meaning of the Bill) and not a shop, because those of our assistants who are employed after half past 9 do not work more than the stipulated time in the day. I have three establishments in Wellington in which a restaurant and a confectioner's shop are combined. The only access to the restaurant is through the shop, and it is a matter of impossibility to provide refreshments for people in the restaurants after half past 9 if the shop is to be closed. It has been the custom always that the shop and the restaurant should be combined. I would respectfully urge, gentlemen, that a clause should be inserted in the Bill to the effect that the business should be called a " restaurant " and not a " shop." Another clause, clause 9, has not any exemptions in connection with restaurants, and, glancing through, we find it absolutely impracticable to observe in connection with our particular class of business, and we would ask that clause 9 should not apply to restaurants. Of course, there is one clause (I do not wish to press it) relating to the hours in connection with hotels, by which assistants in hotels can be employed for longer hours than in restaurants, although the work is quite similar; in fact, I venture to state that the work is not so strenuous in restaurants as it is in hotels. However, that was stressed very much on previous occasions when I had the honour to go before the Committee on Labour Bills in 1910. Clause (b) of 27 : There is one omission there, sir, which we think will meet with your approval being inserted. I suggest that you might put in fifteen hours' work for midday waitresses. We think that it is reasonable to expect that they should be allowed to work the midday waitresses fifteen hours. In clause 27 (4) people who do not employ more than three assistants 4. What was the object of that clause?—To allow waitresses to l)e employed just during the lunch-hour. 5. Is there anything to prevent them now? —There is nothing that I can find that makes any provision for midday waiters or waitresses. In clause 27 (4) there is no provision for holidays for those who employ more than three assistants, and we certainly think it in the interests of the workers that the half-holiday should be uniform. It ought not to be restricted to those who employ more than three assistants; all assistants should be entitled to their half-holiday. Those arc the chief points, sir. In clause 30 there is just one word I think that should be eliminated, the word " fixed " in the third line; that may be interpreted in many ways. 6. That is already noted? —I hope these points will have your consideration. It is ruinous to our business if we have to close our shops at half past 9 in the evening—the restriction of the restaurants —so many people wish to take refreshments later than that; it is a convenience to the public, and its curtailment would disorganize our business. 7. Mr. J. Bollard.] Would not the shop be closed, Mr. Godber, if you did not sell anything? —You must have some one there. The assistants in the shop supply goods for some one out of the shop into the restaurant—hot pies, cakes, and other things. There must be some one in the shop, especially in confectionery-shops; it would mean partitioning it off and making a passage down to the restaurant. 8. It is not the sales in shops but because it interferes with the business of the restaurant?— Yes, and it also interferes with the business in the shop. People want to carry home things for supper. I take it you, gentlemen, do not wish to restrict trade provided it is carried on on proper lines. 9. Mr. Veitch.] Mr. Godber explains that he wishes his restaurant to be treated as a shop?— Not the shop as a restaurant. 10. Now, in connection with that particular matter, would you agree that all your assistants be covered by the restaurant workers' award I —Yes, we observe that now. 11. Mr. Glover.] You stated that your employees were not to work in the shop after half past 9? —According to the clause here, section 5. the 2nd clause, it says distinctly, " No female assistant shall be employed in or about any shop in which is exclusively carried on the business of a confectioner or fruiterer after half past 9 o'clock in the evening, or in or about any other shop to which this paragraph relates after 9 o'clock in the evening." 12. Then you desire to have the shop kept open until you close the restaurant?— Yes. 13. If that was carried out would not the shopman put a little restaurant in the back of his business? —I do not think so. 14. Do not you think people in other trades would expect similar advantages? —There is quite a difference between the requirements of a grocer or draper, for instance, and those who require refreshments in the evening. Ours is a perishable trade. 15. Is not the fruit trade so? —Yes. 16. Should it not apply to that as well? —I think myself, sir, that the term "confectioner" should mean pastrycooks and fruiterers as well. 17. You agree with that then: you did not mention that at the time?—l omitted that, sir. Naturally my own particular business is the first thought that comes into my mind. 18. Mr. Okey.] You sell eatables: you do not sell fruit? —The only time we do so is during the strawberry season. 19. You do not sell cigarettes?—No, sir, we have never had a license, and do not want one. We sell nothing except non-intoxicants.