Extra Late Shopping Night “Great Success”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29702, 21 December 1961, Page 10

Extra Late Shopping Night “Great Success”

(New Zealand Press Association} NEW PLYMOUTH, December 20. The switch from late night shopping on New Year’s Eve to last night, giving two late nights in the week before Christmas, was an unqualified success, according to statements by businessmen today.

The experiment, first tried in Auckland last year, was done for the first time in Taranaki by agreement with the uniom concerned. Union opposition prevented a second late night’s shopping in other parts of New Zealand this year. Stores in Taranaki will open late again on Friday, the last shopping day before Christmas. The president of the Taranaki Drapers’ Association, Mr M. I. D. Greenhill, of New Plymouth, said the transfer of the New Year’s Eve late night to give two late nights the week before Christmas was appreciated by the pub-

lic, the retail trade and their employees. “The fact that the public approved was obvious in that they were in town in their thousands from early evening right through to 9 p.m.,” he said. “People in offices and factories obviously appreciated being able to shop in their own town before going away and they took full advantage of the facilities extended to them,” he said. The shop assistants appreciated the change in that they were being paid overtime, their burden of the lastminute rush on Christmas Eve was lessened and they would go away for the Christmas break with the knowledge that next week would not be quite so hectic, said Mr Greenhill. “From most retailers’ points of view it was the first real burst of Christmas spending and most store managers this morning felt it was well worthwhile.’’ In Hawera, shopkeepers today referred to the “outstanding success” of the late night shopping. Generally, business at all Hawera shops was on a par with that experienced last Friday night. However, the main benefit of

the extra late night was in easing the pressure on staff and making shopping conditions slightly more comfortable. In Hamilton, a vice-presid-ent of the New Zealand Retailers’ Federation, Mr B. E. Woodhams, commented: “It was obvious last night from the crowds which came into town to take advantage of the extra late night for Christmas shopping that the scheme has been a success.” “Shoppers last night certainly appreciated the extra three hours in which to finish their Christmas shopping, passing many favourable comments on the system,” he said. Gisborne’s extra shopping night did not bring about problems in the application of shopworkers’ awards, said a Labour Department official. “There was complete agreement between employer and the union representatives in Gisborne and there have been no complaints at all,” he said.