CHAIN STORES.

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

CHAIN STORES.

REPLY to statements.

The organisation which is promoting the petitions which are being circulated asking that the operations of chain and departmental stores should be restricted, is the Massed Retail Traders' Political Association (non-party), which has its headquarters in Cliristchiircli, according to Mr. R. M. Barker, secretary of the Auckland Master Grocers' Association. The petitions are to be presented to the Industries and Commerce Committee. of the House of Representatives, and Mr. Barker objects to the statement by the representatives of the Auckland organisation representing chain and department grocery stores that one of the big chain stores in the Dominion is behind the petitions. Mr. Barker explained that the Massed Retail Traders' Association was in no way connected with any wholesale or retail organisation. As for the statement made that nonchain stores "generally do not provide the delivery service for the convenience of the buying public that many of lis are compelled to do," Mr. Barker eal <l the delivery expense was an overhead always associated with the individual storekeeper. These individual storekeepers not only gave delivery, but in many cjxscs also extended credit to tlien

customers. Mr. Barker alpo commented on a statement that "where a grocery store is not joined to an award because the owner employs 110 labour and is not subject to a requisition, the owner can keep open for any hours be likes, except for the statutory half-holiday, holidays and Sundays'." The point, he said, was covered adequately in clause two of the existing award, which said that all shops shall be closed at the specified hours. Consequently, irrespective of whether or not a grocer was employing labour, he must close at 5.30 p.m. on four days of the week, 9 p.m. on the late night, and 12 30 p.m. on the statutory half-day. Under the Shops and Offices Amendment Act, however, lie was required, if an employer of labour, to have Ms assistants off the promises by noon on the statutory half-holiday.