Early Closing Act Amendment Act.-1923.

(b) by striking out the words "being not less than one month
from the date of the latest of such publications" in sub-
division (b) thereof and substituting in lieu of the words
so struck out the words "being not less than four weeks
from the date of the publication of such notice "; and
(c) by adding at the end thereof (but not as part of subdivision
(b) thereof) the passage "and shall forthwith upon the
publication in the Gazette of the said certificate and notice,
publish in two newspapers circulating in the proposed
District an advertisement, in the prescribed form, calling
attention to the publication in the Gazette of the said
certificate and notice, and specifying the time fixed by
such notice within which a counter-petition may be
presented as mentioned in such notice."

7. Part II. of the principal Act is amended by inserting after Amendment of section 22 the following sections:

principal Act, Part II

Minister may, in absence of petition

to contrary, annex outlying area to adjoining Shopping

22A. (1) In any case where, in the opinion of the Minister,
it is desirable that any area adjoining a Shopping District
should be annexed to such Shopping District, the Minister-
(a) shall publish in the Gazette a notice, in the prescribed form, District.
of such his opinion, fixing a time, being not less than
six weeks from the date of the publication of such notice,
within which a petition praying that the area concerned
be not annexed to the District may be presented to the
Minister; and

(b) shall, forthwith upon the publication in the Gazette of the
said notice, publish in two newspapers circulating in the
area concerned an advertisement, in the prescribed form,
calling attention to the publication in the Gazette of the
said notice and specifying the time fixed by such notice
within which a petition may be presented as mentioned
in such notice.

(2) Unless, within the time fixed under subsection (1) hereof, there is duly presented to the Minister a petition as mentioned in that subsection, in the prescribed form, and signed by a majority of the electors residing in the area concerned, the Governor may, by proclamation, annex such area to the Shopping District mentioned in the notice published by the Minister in the Gazette, and thereupon such area shall be annexed to and form part of such Shopping District.

(3) If, within the time fixed under subsection (1) hereof, there is duly presented to the Minister a petition as mentioned in that subsection, in the prescribed form, and signed by a majority of the electors residing in the area concerned, then subsection (2) hereof shall not apply.

(4) The Minister shall refer any petition presented under this section, if such petition is in the prescribed form, to the Returning Officer for the State. The said Returning Officer shall certify in

writing

When outlying area annexed, compulsory half-holiday may be changed.

Amendment of

principal Act, s. 23No petition for change of half

holiday within three years of petition under sec. 22B.

Amendment of principal Act,

s. 34

Fees for registration and renewal of

registration to be paid.

Early Closing Act Amendment Act.-1923.

writing to the Minister whether or not the petition has been signed by a majority of the electors residing in the area concerned, and the Minister shall publish such certificate in the Gazette.

22B. (1) A petition may be presented to the Minister, praying that the compulsory half-holiday for shops in a Shopping District to which an adjoining area has been annexed under section 22A of this Act be changed to the weekday specified in such petition.

(2) A petition under this section may be presented at any time within six months after the making of the proclamation annexing such adjoining area to the Shopping District.

(3) Such petition

(a) shall be in the prescribed form; and

(b) shall be signed by a majority of the electors residing in such Shopping District.

(4) Upon the presentation of a petition under subsection (1) hereof the Minister shall refer such petition to the Returning Officer for the State.

(5) If the Returning Officer is satisfied that the petition has been duly signed as required by subsection (3) hereof he shall certify to the Minister in writing that it has been so signed.

(6) If the Returning Officer certifies as mentioned in subsection (5) hereof the Minister shall by notice in the prescribed form and published in the Gazette and in two newspapers circulating in the Shopping District, declare that from the time specified in the notice the compulsory half-holiday shall be changed as prayed by the petition.

(7) Nothing in this section shall affect the right of any person to present a petition under section 23 of this Act.

8. Section 23 of the principal Act is amended by adding after the words this section" in the last line thereof " or under section 22B of this Act".

9. Section 34 of the principal Act is amended

(a) by inserting at the end of subsection (1) thereof the words "and shall, so long as he continues to occupy such shop, apply annually as hereinafter provided for renewal of the registration of such shop";

(b) by inserting at the end of subsection (2) thereof (but not so as to be portion of paragraph III. of subdivision (b) thereof) the words "and shall be accompanied by the fee required by this Act"; and

(c) by adding after subsection (2) thereof the following subsection:

(3) Application for renewal of registration shall be made

(a) in the prescribed manner; and

(b) not

Early Closing Act Amendment Act.-1923.

(b) not later than the thirty-first day of July in each
year;

and shall be accompanied by the fee required by this Act.

10. Section 35 of the principal Act is amended—

(a) by inserting after the word "registration
registration" in the first line
thereof the words or renewal of registration":

66

Amendment of principal Act, s. 35.

effected.

(b) by inserting at the end thereof the words "Provided that Fees to be paid the Registrar shall not effect the registration or the before registration renewal of the registration of any shop until the fees required by this Act are paid."

11. Part IV. of the principal Act is amended by inserting after Amendment of section 35 thereof the following section:

35A. The fees payable in respect of registration and annual renewal of registration shall be those prescribed by the Second Schedule to the Early Closing Act Amendment Act, 1923.

principal Act, Part IV.

Fees for registration and renewal of

registration.

12. Section 36 of the principal Act is amended by adding at the Amendment of end thereof the following subsection (the preceding portion thereof principal Act, being read as subsection (1) thereof) :

s. 36--

Shops not to be

occupied unless

registration

(2) No person shall occupy or use any shop after the expiration of the time for renewal of the registration of such shop, renewed. unless the registration is duly renewed under this Act.

Penalty: Two Pounds for every day during which the shop
is occupied or used without renewal as aforesaid after the
time for such renewal.

13. Section 37 of the principal Act is amended

(a) by inserting after the word "shops" in the first line
thereof the passage "(except tobacconists' shops); and

(b)

by adding at the end thereof the following subsection (the
preceding portion of the said section being read as sub-
section (1) thereof):

(2) The closing times in every week for tobacconists' shops shall be as follows:

(a) In a Saturday Closing District

Eight o'clock on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, and Saturday:

Nine o'clock on Friday.

(b) In a Shopping District other than a Saturday Closing
District

Nine o'clock on Saturday:

Eight o'clock on every other weekday.

Amendment of principal Act, s. 37Closing time for tobacconists' shops fixed by Act.

14. Section

Early Closing Act Amendment Act.-1923.

14. Section 38 of the principal Act is amended so as to read as follows:

38. (1) Subject to subsection (2) hereof, whenever a public holiday occurs the following alterations in the closing times shall apply in the case of every shopkeeper who, on such holiday, keeps his shop closed and fastened against the admission of the public, and does not require or permit or suffer any shop assistant to work for him either in or about such shop or elsewhere, or to remain in or about the business portion of such shop, namely:

A. In a Saturday Closing District

I. When such holiday is kept on a Monday

(a) The compulsory half-holiday need not be kept or allowed in the preceding week; and

(b) The closing times in such preceding week shall be six o'clock on the Saturday, but on other days shall remain as provided by section 37;

II. When such holiday is kept on a weekday other than a Monday the compulsory half-holiday need not be kept or allowed in the week in which such holiday is kept;

III. When such holiday is kept on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, the closing times in such week shall be six o'clock on the Saturday, but on other days shall remain as provided by section 37; and IV. When such holiday is kept on a Friday, the closing times in such week shall be nine o'clock on the Thursday and six o'clock on the Saturday, but on other days shall remain as provided by section 37. B. In a Shopping District other than a Saturday Closing District

1. The compulsory half-holiday need not be kept or allowed in the week in which such holiday

is kept;

II. When such holiday is kept on a Saturday, the
closing times in such week shall be six o'clock
on the usual day for the compulsory half-
holiday, and nine o'clock on the Friday, but
on other days shall remain as provided by
section 37; and

III. When such holiday is kept on a day other than
a Saturday but not on the usual day for
the compulsory half-holiday, the closing
times in such week shall be six o'clock
on the usual day for the compulsory half-
holiday, but on other days shall remain as
provided by section 37.
(2) With

Early Closing Act Amendment Act.-1923.

(2) With respect to tobacconists' shops, subsection (1) hereof shall be read as if the words "eight o'clock" were substituted for the words "six o'clock" wherever such last-mentioned words are mentioned therein.

15. Section 40 of the principal Act is amended by inserting after Amendment of the word "time in the second line thereof the words Sunday".

or on

16. Division II. of Part V. of the principal Act is amended by inserting after section 41 thereof the following section:

41A. (1) The Minister, or any officer authorised by the Minister to grant suspensions under this section, may on the application of any shopkeeper in the Metropolitan Shopping District, suspend the operation of section 41 for one Saturday in any year in respect of such shopkeeper's shop: Provided that

(a) No suspension under this section shall be granted unless
the Minister, or such officer as aforesaid, is satisfied
that the suspension is required only for the purpose of
permitting shop assistants to engage or assist in stock-
taking;

(b) Every suspension granted under this section shall be void
unless the shop in respect of which the same is granted
is kept closed on the morning of the Saturday for which
the suspension is issued;

(c) Every such suspension shall be subject to such conditions,
if any, as the Minister or officer granting the same
imposes, either by the notice of suspension or by
subsequent notice signed by him; and

(d) Every such suspension shall be, and be deemed always to
have been, void unless the shopkeeper of the shop in
respect of which the suspension is granted pays any
shop assistants employed by him after the closing time
at a rate not less than one and a half times the ordinary
rates of wages paid to such shop assistants: Provided
that no shop assistant so employed after the closing
time shall receive less than Five Shillings as payment
for such employment on any day.

(2) A fee of Two Shillings and Sixpence for every suspension under this section shall be paid to the Minister or officer granting

the same.

principal Act, s. 40— Sales on Sunday expressly prohibited.

Amendment of

principal Act,
Part V.,

Division II.—
Suspension of s. 41

of this Act.

17. Section 45 of the principal Act is amended by adding at the Amendment of end thereof the following subsection:

(6) When any suspension is granted under this section as regards any particular shop or shops or as regards any particular person or persons, a fee of Two Shillings and Sixpence for every such suspension shall be paid to the Minister or officer granting the same. 18. Section

principal Act, s. 45— Fee for suspension

of Act to enable particular shops or overtime.

persons to work