BUILDINGS IN SHOP AREAS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27913, 9 March 1956, Page 9

BUILDINGS IN SHOP AREAS

Banks And Insurance Offices OBJECTION BY RETAILERS’ FEDERATION (From Our Own Reporter) HANMER SPRINGS, March 8. Legislation to prevent the taking over of premises in prominent shopping areas by banks, insurance companies or any other concern and not re-erecting shops on the street frontages, is to be sought by the New Zealand Retailers’ Federation. The conference of the federation, on its final day today, decided to seek the co-operation of other interested organisations to approach the Government. Wholesale houses dealing in the lines handled by federation members will be requested to remain open to Christmas on the same days as retail shops are open and manufacturers and wholesalers will be requested to maintain at least a skeleton staff for the delivery of goods throughout the holiday period when shops are open. The federation decided to make representations to wholesalers on their being often very late in passing credits for goods returned, and that they are not sending invoices or a docket showing the quantity and price at the time of delivery of goods. The South Canterbury remit said retailers were being inconvenienced. All possible steps will be taken to have a uniform form of labelling in respect of the Wool Labelling Act adopted by manufacturers. Another Canterbury-Westland association remit ; carried was to request the advisory i board to examine the act with a view i to requesting amendments to clauses . of the act making innocent parties liable and failing to give protection to the wool trade and consumer, as ■ was originally intended. As the present position appeared to justify a fear that cheque books were very easily obtained, the federation adopted a Canterbury-Westland remit that the advisory board bring to the notice of the Associated Banks the large number of cheques returned marked "insufficient funds,” “refer to drawer” or “present again.” An Otago remit that representations be made to the Government to have the issuing of hawking licences transferred from local bodies to the Magistrate’s Court, in order that applications might be checked by the police, was lost. Officers Elected Mr G. E. Davies (Timaru) was elected president, and Messrs R. S. Milne (Auckland) and S. L. Moses were elected vice-presidents. Other appointments were:—Advisory board, Messrs J. F. Living, A. L. George, W. A. Mann, Moses, D. A. Smith, J. W. Yates (all of Wellington); board i of management of New Zealand Col- ' lege of Retailing. Messrs R. M. Barker (Auckland), W. J. Court (Whangarei), A. Radford, jun. (Wellington), Davies, R. C. Tizard (Dunedin), and J. W. Wood (Invercargill): trade groups ? national executive chairmen, drapery ’ and fashion, Mr Wood; footwear, Mr . W. A. Downing (Christchurch); fur- ; niture and furnishings, Mr A. Fow . (Hamilton); home appliances. Mr R. r Tizard; crockery and household hardly ware. Mr H. M. Minson (Christchurch); men’s and boys’ wear, Mr » C. C. Smith (Christchurch).