Extended shop hours opposed

Press, 17 March 1977, Page 7

Extended shop hours opposed

PA Rotorua Retailers would not achieve the extra sales or profit required to offset extended trading hours, the president of the New Zealand Wholesale Hardware Guild's Federation. Mr R. A. Clareburt, said in Rotorua. He said additional trading hours would mean an extra cost burden to the trader, or an increase in the price of goods. Margins were pegged at present, but if hours were extended, the Government would be required to relax these restrictions, Mr Clareburt said. The cost in additional wages for supporting services, particularly Saturday morning trading, such as transport, railways, post offices and banks would

mean additional increases in inflation. Mr Clareburt said he was sure retailers w r ould not gain the extra sales or profit to offset extended trading hours.

“The word profit is seen by many not connected with business or its administration as a dirty word, but there is no substitute in the business environment for profit,” he said. All trading companies had to produce reasonable profits to enable them to expand, consolidate, develop, and return to shareholders a good return for the initial investment risk. Mr Clareburt said the federation, at each annual conference, had reaffirmed its objection to any further extension to Saturday trading, or extension to the exempted goods list.