Shopping list criticised

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33964, 3 October 1975, Page 3

Shopping list criticised

The report of the committee reviewing the list of goods allowed to be sold outside regular trading hours was yesterday described as the largest action ever promoted to demolish the Monday-to-Friday shopping week.

The criticism came from the national secretary of the New Zealand Shop Employees’ Association (Mr B. Alderdice), who said the report could firmly establish commerce at weekends.

would certainly have additional expenses in such things as labour and power, with consequent increases’ in ■ the price of goods. “The shop employee does ■not want to work on the 'week-end and the public of New Zealand do not want further increased prices,” he said.

“The recommendations cut across working conditions. It is quite possible that if they were put into effect, our members with no say in the matter would be transferred to a different award coverage' providing less pay and worse i conditions.” said Mr Alderdice. Supermarkets would bej able to open 24 hours a dayj every day with few goods unavailable for sale. Indeed, they would be forced to open because the seven-day dairies would be unrestricted in their food selling. In addition, fruit and vegetable shops, florists, delicatessens and paint shops would open at any time of the day, night, or week-end, without hindrance.

The committee’s report was published on Wednesday and it recommended the addition of several items to the list of those already available for sale outside regular! trading hours. The new list was described by the committee as representing a substantial but not excessive extension, particularly in food, which would regularise a number of illegal practices. Mr Alderdice said that under the new list shops