NEW BRIGHTON SHOPPING

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29363, 16 November 1960, Page 19

NEW BRIGHTON SHOPPING

Opinions Of Grocers

One New Brighton grocer does not agree with the decision of the Canterbury Master Grocers’ Association to take action to stop member grocers trading at New Brighton on Saturday.

Mr James Laing, proprietor of Laing’s Grocery, Ltd., one of the two shops concerned, said yesterday that he thought the association’s decision was “silly." “If the association makes us close on Saturdays, it is going to throw trade to the dairies and chain stores, and the association is not going to gain anything,” he said.

Mr R. T. Marriott, proprietor of Marriott’s Grocery, Ltd., the other New Brighton member of the Master Grocers’ Association, said he preferred to make no comment.

Explaining the Master Grocers’ Association's decision, its president. (Mr J. Hardie) said yesterday that it was perturbed at moves to “break away” from the 40-hour week. “We fought hard enough for it, and we don’t see why we should give it up,” he said. "Creeping Right In” The association would have no grounds for opposing further Saturday shopping, and consequent breaking away from the 40-hour week, unless it opposed its members trading on Saturdays at New Brighton, said Mr Hardie. “A lot of people would be pleased to have Saturday morning shopping. We are afraid it might creep right into the city,” Mr Hardie said. Hay’s, Ltd., had already sought the opinion of potential customers on their wishes regarding Saturday opening of its Riccarton supermarket, Mr Hardie said. Many other places in New Zealand were holding up New Brighton as an example of Saturday shopping, and saying: “If it’s good enough for New Brighton, it’s good enough for us.”

The New Zealand Master Grocers’ Federation had been opposing such moves elsewhere as breaking away from the 40-hour week, just as the Canterbury Master Grocers’ Association was now opnosing its members opening on Saturday at New Brighton, Mr Hardie said.