THE RETAIL FRUIT TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 115, 14 May 1920, Page 6

THE RETAIL FRUIT TRADE.

AiXD EARLY CLOSING MOVEMENT: Matter., pertaining to the petition now in circu'ation for-the early closing Of fruiterers' shops in this city were rev'ewed by Mr. Pulman, secretary of the Retail Fruiterers' Association, this morning. He stated: "The fruiterers are only endeavouring to follow in the footsteps of practical!*; all other retail businesses. The majority of the fruiterer, carry on operations with the help of the family _.nd .perhaps a girl or two, and it is recognised that •the present long hours are not right, and are not in the best interests of 'anyone. Requisitions for shorter hours have been prepared; 7 p.m. the first four days of the week and 11.30 p:m. Friday and Saturday for tbe city and all the suburbs, and have been very numerously signed by all those engaged in the business, particularly by returned soldiers. The requisitions are now just about completed and ready for presentation to the various local authorities, who certify to the correctness of the signatures, after which it is forwarded to the Minister of Labour, who decides if the requisition represents a majority of those engaged in the trade. If that U so, I understand tbe matter is gazetted and becomes operative. This matter ha. received the enthusiastic support of a very large majority, 80 or 90 per cent, of the European, engaged in the trade and also of four or five Hindu shopkeep : ng fruiterers and 14 Hindu fruit hawkers, with more to follow. The only opposition of any moment to the movement comes from tbe Chinese; who don't feel the burden of the long hours as our own people do. The Chinese are nearly, all members of the Retail Fruiterers' Association, and in .the past have always worked amicably with -heir fellow members, and I think they would conform to their best intereet* in this matter, by accepting itlhe will of an overwhelming majority of returned soldiers and other Europeans engaged in the fruit trade."