§ "Nothing in this Act shall affect the provisions of Section seven of The Shops Act, 1912."—[Mr. Kiley.]
§ Brought up, and read the First time.
§ Mr. KILEYI beg to move, "That the Clause be read a Second time."
Section 7 of the Shops Act, 1912, provides that where it appears expedient to modify the provisions for early closing in any locality the Secretary of State may appoint a person to hold an inquiry, and, after the inquiry is held, determine what time is suitable for closing to take place either in any section of shops or in all the shops in that locality, and that then a closing order can be made. I submit that this alternative procedure would be far more advantageous to the community than the proposals contained in the Bill which we are now considering.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf the proposal which is now put forward be an alternative, the hon. Member ought to have objected on the Second Reading of the Bill. He cannot bring this up now.
§ Mr. KILEYAll that is asked is that where there is any advantage in a particular section in a special locality availing themselves of this procedure there should be power to do so, and what I am asking is that power should be given to the Home Secretary to make special provisions as provided in the Act of 1912 for special trades in special localities.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf the hon. Member merely proposes that there should be power to make certain exceptions in certain districts, his proposal would be admissible, but if what he proposes is a complete alternative to the Bill then his proposal would be out of order.
§ Mr. KILEYThen I will withdraw that word, and I will emphasise the point that the object which I have in view is to permit an exception to be made for the special purpose of any particular trade or 100 any special locality. For instance, in seaside places, for nine months of the year the procedure of the Bill could be carried out without any difficulty; but during the season at the seaside it would be impossible for people who arrive at a certain time of night to obtain what they require, whereas if the local authority had the power in special circumstances of emergency to make provision for a certain period it would be much more suitable to the needs of the district. This would apply also in many parts of the country. For instance, in agricultural districts, during the fruit gathering period, when people are in the fields during the day and return late at night, there should be some special provision made for such special occasions. In districts inhabited by working people who are employed, say, at the docks of London, and where these people who are casual labourers obtain payment after their work is finished after a certain hour, they should have facilities for obtaining what they want. I submit that the facilities under the Shops Act, 1912, are much more suitable than the rigid proposals which the Home Secretary is now asking us to adopt. I submit that this Clause can be inserted in the Bill without interfering with such districts as those in the West End of London, to which the Home Secretary particularly wishes it to apply, whereas in the district adjoining St. Martin's Lane and Charing Cross, where there are many places of amusement, it probably would be preferable to have some other hour.
§ Motion not seconded.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe Amendments of the right hon. Baronet the Member for London (Sir F. Banbury) are out of Order.
§ Motion made, and Question, "That the Bill be now read the Third time," put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read the Third time, and passed.