SHOP ASSISTANTS’ DISPUTE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22400, 13 May 1938, Page 3

SHOP ASSISTANTS’ DISPUTE

HEARING IN ARBITRATION COURT CASE AGAINST SATURDAY CLOSING (CRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, May 12. The hearing of the Dominion shop assistants’ industrial dispute, which was begun in the second Court of Arbitration on Tuesday, was continued to-day, when further evidence was heard in support of the claims by the employers. Partial agreement was reached in Conciliation Council; but several items are still in dispute. The Court will resume to-morrow, when the hearing will be concluded. The issues in dispute include wages and hours of employment. The workers claim a five-day week of 40 hours, with the abolition of late shopping nights on Fridays, and the introduction of a closed holiday on Saturdays. , . Questioned about the latter claim, a witness from Christchurch submitted that if shops were compelled to close, as suggested, there would be a big decrease in turnover. He produced a summary of sales mde on Friday. From 9 a.m, to i. -n sales were 9.54 per cent, of the day’s turnover; from noon to 5 p.m., 42.22 per cent.; from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. 14.07 per cent.; from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., 32.90 per cent. Witness added that since the 40-hour week was introduced his Saturday morning sales had increased by nearly 50 per cent. “Factory girls." he added, .“now have a privilege they never had before, and are able to shop in daylight. The colour factor plays a tremendous part in the making up of girls’ apparel.” Witness quoted a relatively small bootshop in Christchurch which employed about five hands. The return for six weeks showed in some cases that the shop put through more business on Friday and Saturday than during the rest of the week.