AKAROA DRAPERY SHOP TO OPEN ON SATURDAYS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28750, 22 November 1958, Page 4

AKAROA DRAPERY SHOP TO OPEN ON SATURDAYS

P. J. Mora and Company, Ltd. <Mr R. W. Edgley) was granted permission to open a drapery shop in Akaroa from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on Saturdays during the holiday period, from the Saturday before Labour week-end to Easter Saturday inclusive, in a decision given by Mr A. P. Blair. S.M.. in the ' Magistrate’s Court.

The application was granted on the condition that no labour other than the proprietor and his wife be employed, and that the shop close on Thursdays during the holiday period. The Magistrate said he considered that Akaroa was a holiday resort The Shop Assistants’ Union (Mr B. A. Barrer) and Maxways, Ltd. (Mr J. G. Leggat) opposed the application. Mr G. P. McGregor represented the Labour Department. Akaroa was a tourist resort and a venue for many week-end conferences, and the Canterbury Public relations committee supported in principle the opening of shops in Akaroa, said the Canterbury Public Relations Officer <Mr E. G. Beckett) who appeared in support of the application. Akaroa had a bright future as a tourist resort. It was handy to Christchurch and had assumed an even greater importance as a holiday centre since The Lodge had been burnt down at Hanmer Springs.

He had received a number of inquiries during the holiday season as to why the shops were not open in Akaroa on a Saturday, said Mr G. E. Brasell, a launch proprietor. Akaroa was going ahead as a holiday and tourist resort and he had spent about £lO.OOO on his boat to cater for the demand. Many years ago the

shops had opened in Akaroa on Saturday but the scheme had been abandoned.

The general policy of the legis-i lature stated clearly that! wherever possible work was to be done on five days a week. Monday to Friday, said Mr Barrer. This was expressed both in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act and in the Shops and Offices Act. The Court of Arbitration was given power to fix opening and closing hours of shops and the times did not provide for opening on a Saturday unless another day for closing was specified in the award. Prohibition of Sunday trading was even more complete than on Saturday trading. It was also provided in the Shops and Offices Act that an exception to the rule could be provided if it was in the public interest. said the Magistrate. The Court had to take into consideration the opinion of other shopkeepers but the legislation provided for special consideration to be given to shops at holiday resorts, Mr Barrer said. Applications made by shops at Woodend and Waikuku, which were conceded by the union to be holiday resorts, had succeeded but similar applications made by Kaiapoi and Oxford shops had been refused. Even if consideration was given to granting the application it should only be for the holiday period from October to February and not for all the year. For about nine months of the year Akaroa' was merely a centre for a farming; community of some 2000 persons. Akaroa itself had a population of about 600.

“If permission is granted for a, drapery shop to open it will only result in everyone else having a go,” said Mr Barrer. “Why should, the people of Akaroa enjoy a' privilege Christchurch people] have not got without going to New Brighton.” The popular feeling in New Zealand leaned towards the 40hour week, which had become an established part of the country’s way of life and was recognised by the legislature as such, said Mr Leggat. Even though provision was made for exceptions the applications had to be examined with great care, as they were against the “stream of the legislation.” This application was opposed as no other comparable shop had such an exemption. In the experience of the company he represented the demand for drapery goods on a Saturday was negligible, said Mr Leggat. Akaroa was in no sense a tourist resort and was only a holiday centre for a limited period of the year.

It could be readily understood that at a holiday resort there were needs which should and must be met, but they related mainly to the stomach. Mr Leggat said. It was unrealistic to try to equate these needs with a drapery shop.