The Sunday Trading Bill There was an agreeable and unusual
unanimity in the House of Commons on Friday, when the Sunday Trading Restriction Bill was read for a second time. All parties, and Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd for the Government, expressed their agreement with the principle of the Bill, which is intended to-restrict the growth of Sunday Trading which has taken place since the Shops Act of 1912 was passed. Outside Parliament the Bill has received support both from employers' associations and the unions of Shop Assistants and of Distributive Workers. The only solid body of oppoSition came from the members, both Con- servative and Labour, for the East End of London, where the Jewish Sabbath complicates matters, but though there may be good reason for exempting Petticoat Lane, it is difficult to understand their argument that the Bill would mean ruin to East End shopkeepers. No doubt those who regard every legal restriction as a loss of liberty will protest at this new intrusion, but their com- plaints will certainly be drowned by the voices of those to whom the Bill secures a day of freedom and leisure. The Bill was not, for the most part, supported on ordinary Sabbatarian grounds.
Previous page
