COUNTRY NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 130, 3 June 1901, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

WAIHI,

WAIHI, Thursday. , SHOPKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. I

Last evening an important meeting re business people took place in the Rob Koy Hotel, with the object of dis« cussing- the question of early closing-, and the weekly half holiday. Mr K. S. Heady presided. Considerable discussion took place as to the hour o£ dosing on an ordinary week night,6 o'clock being- the most favoured. Mr ' Taylor thought that Wednesday afternoon should be recognised as the' half holiday. As it is How, some *ofthe tradesmen keep Tuesday as the half holiday, while others feeep open, at night. Mr Didk considered that 6j o'clock should be the closing hour. Mr Koberts suggested that an association be formed to Organise a< scheme by which all business will be< regulated as to hours of Closing. Mr Taylor proposed, and it was carried, that a committee be formed consist- **

ing of Messrs W. H. Phillips, E. Mix Leay and R. S. Ready, to wait on the business people, and get the closing hotirs fixed. Discussion then took; place as to the advisability of forming a shopkeepers' association. The Chairman pointed out the necessity; for such an institution, on the grounds that the subsciption list nuisance was becoming unbearable in Waihi, etc. He considers that something should be done at once. Thai Warehousemen's Association of Auckland dealt with this matter, and individual subscribing was prohibited by the rules. Mr Taylor, moved that a committee be formed with power to add to its number, to interview thei business people, and to obtain all necessary information from similar; associations in the colony. Carried. The follpwing officers of the" proposed; Waihi Association were then elected:] President: Mr R. S. Ready; A. Dick, treasurer; W. Gardiner,, secretary u committee, Messrs W. H. Phillips, N. Phillips, McLeay and Say. Mr Sayi proposed, seconded by Mr Dick, and! carried, that each member present pay 2/6 .to provide a fund to meet preliminary expenses, to be refunded! later from the fees. The meeting then adjourned for a fortnight.