SATURDAY CLOSING

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25081, 13 January 1947, Page 3

SATURDAY CLOSING

NEW BRIGHTON GROCERS DECISION MAY BE MADE TO-NIGHT With the exception of one grocer at North Beach, who has observed Saturday closing for some time, the grocers in New Brighton kept their shops open all day on Saturday. A special meeting of New Brighton grocers will be held this evening to discuss the position and decide what action, if any, will be taken to endeavour to have New Brighton shops exempt from the provision in the Grocers’ Award fixing the closing of shops on Saturday. . Apart from the fixing of closing hours by the Court, there is provision under the Shops and Offices Act for an appeal to a magistrate for exemption on the grounds of hardship and public convenience. One grocer in North Beach whose shop was open on Saturday had a large notice displayed in his window giving the new hours of business as from Monday, including opening on Wednesdays. the late night Fridays, and closing Saturdays. ' The butchers’ shops already observe Saturday closing. If the grocers decide or are compelled to close on Saturdays, retailers in other .trades will probably consider their position; specially in view of the probability of the Arbitration Court fixing the 40-hour fiveday week and the closing of all shops governed by the Retail Shop Assistants’ Award. _ . The New Brighton Businessmen s Association has not yet discussed the position in reference to the Saturday closing of shops.