HOURS FOR CLOSING SHOPS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12203, 25 May 1905, Page 4

HOURS FOR CLOSING SHOPS.

THE POSITION IN KAIAPOI. The burgesses) of Kaiapot as a rWtf! leave the meetings of their OmmmU severely alone, but on Monday et»aa*V when the question of the hows J*, ©losing shops came up, there were m£» residents present than could find seat* ing accommodation. There was • fait attendance of the Council. The Town Clerk, who is also to the Retailer*' Association, wrote thai} » meeting of shopkeeper* ou the WW** u__ |h*d carried a aailj thirty-four had signed a requiaitxm tes tbe Minister of Juabour, asking that-;, shops should be dosed at 6\p.m. td) Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, aad> Fridays, and. at V p.m. on B»turdaye>f He handed the petition to the Oou__y to certify that it had been duly signed.' Cr. Mvdgley said he supposed that the,' chemiats, tobacconists, and fruiterers) were not asked to sign, -*"A The Mayor replied that one or two of . these had signed. Cr. Blackwell moved: "That the Council certify to the petition and forward the same." Cr. Sullivan said that the matter of closing had at the recent public meeting been sprung on the shopkespftm rather hastily, and the chants had only • been voted for by thirteen against seven. Ho thought that the first petition should not go foiward till the retailers were clear on the matter. A counter.' petition had been signed by thirty-nros persons, including several of those who i signed the other, and the Mayor would have been considering tha wtereste of the town by convening the second meeting asked for. ; The Mayor said the proceedings' had all been taken fairly. Cr. Sullivan said that extremo haste had been shown by ths Mayor and clerk in vkiting the shopkeepers ftt an early hour next day to get tho petition, signed before any dieoasaion could take, place as to its effect. He thought ths Mayor might have agreed to ths re» : ' quest for • second meeting since it war _ the best business interests of the s town to cultivate instead of shortening the hour* of trade. The Mayor had urged that it was a matter for the Re-, tattlers' Association, but Cr. SulKran considered it a pubtio question, and the' AmrwiMi—i bad not yet been properly set up. The Msvor replied that the awnsis tion was formed at the meeting of tM 15th inst. He considered the who**. matter one for the Association, and the requisition handed to him he oomplainsd was out of order, and an insult to Mm*" self and the clerk, who war* respectively chairman and secretary to the Association. Be denied thai, with the clerk, be took shopkeeper* by surprise when canvassing for their signatures. ' He could not aooept an' amendment' Coffered by Cr. Sulfivan that tbe mat. r should be delayed. , . _• _ Or. Keetley thought that the Council should otll another matting, as it wii » public question. The Mayor stated that the Unit meeting had.been duly advertised, end if slldkl not attend the Council ceuk. not be blamed. The meeting had formed an Association, which had taken up the mattar. v, Cr. Blackwell ramarked that all the Council had now to do waste certify, to the petition. There ware meant*; surely by which .any .protest could, be' made. ". ■■',''* Or. Wyllie opposed the motion to.send forwsrd tbe petition till it was better understood, and an agreement made to satisfy all. • After further discussion.,' the Mayor. put the motion and declared it earned. by five votes to four. AyeiV'.Crs.' Blackwell, Midgley, Bate, EagU -and Parnham. Noes: Or*. Sullivan, I Wylie, Keetley and " : Or. Sullivan again protested that no steps should be taken tiH another meet, ing had been called. , , iM. The Mayor ruled it was not c *,uettion for * vublio meeting, but Ktt.tha, Retailers' Association. _ \ £;}„ Cr. Sullivan again asserted that the' Association had no chairman and>no rules, and was-not properly in ex* istenoe. The Mayor refused to acospt alny : motion in the direction proposed by Cr. Sullivan, and the Council went on to the next business. *,