NEW HOURS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 195, 18 August 1936, Page 8

NEW HOURS.

BUTCHERS' SHOPS. AUCKLAND ARRANGEMENTS. SHOPPING TIME RESTRICTED. On Tuesday, September 1, the new hours governing the opening and closing of butchers' shops come into operation, and last evening at the Master Butchers' Association it was agreed that the hours to be worked were: Monday to Friday, 7.45 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.; Saturday, 0.30 a.m. to 12 noon. At the present time the shops are operating on a 48 liour basis from 7 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on five days of the week, and from 0 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays. The reduction in hours naturally restricts the time available for housewives to do their shopping, and although the hours are the same for closing, the later starting will make the service throughout the clay later to tlie customer, and the co-operation of the buying public is necessary to avoid undue rushes during the afternoons. It is suggested that in view of the recent reduc-

tion of hours in a considerable number! of industries from 48 to 40, considera-1 tion should .be shown by those so placed! —some consideration for fellow workers who are working 44 hours on a 5A day week. It is interesting to compare these new j hours with those existing in this trade ffl few years ago, when all shops were open j from 4 a.m. to C p.m. on four days of the week, on the half-holiday from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m., and one late night from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. In England legislation has just been passed through the House of Lords providing for compulsory closing of all butchers' shops on Sundays. It was stated in England that there was an overwhelming majority engaged in the trade who desired to see Sunday trading stopped, and the only way this could be brought about was by making it law that butchering businesses should not be open to serve the public on Sundays. They further made it unlawful to dispatch any meat, from a butcher's shop or deliver meat when the shop was not open for serving customers. I