SHOPPING HOURS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 207, 2 September 1936, Page 10

SHOPPING HOURS.

CASE OF THE GROCERS.

MEETING NEW CONDITIONS,

The operation of the shorter working week is being met in various ways by grocery firms in the city and suburbs. Chain grocers are now not opening their doors until 9 a.m. eacli day, but the majority of other grocers are opening earlier. There is no uniformity in the hours of the latter group, as some are opening at 5.30 a.m. and others earlier than that. As for Friday night closing there is also to be considerable variation.

Chain stores have decided on 9 p.m. closing, but some other grocers propose to close as early as 7 p.m. Others again,'are aiming to close at 7.30 p.m. or S p.m. It is also stated that there is a surprisingly large body of opinion among grocers against a late night, particularly in the suburbs. The conditions in particular suburbs, it is understood, have assisted to mould this opinion. In some districts much business by way of telephone orders and otherwise is transacted before 9 a.m., and children also do a good deal of shopping before school commences. This explains the reason why many grocers are opening their shops before 9 a.m. Where the shopping hours are longer than those of the chain stores, the problem of adjusting the hours of staffs on the 44-hour basis i? more difficult. To meet the position one grocer is allowing his staff a luncheon period of 1| hours.