Shop bill 'no remedy’

Press, 17 March 1977, Page 7

Shop bill ' no remedy’

The shop Trading Hours Bill would not remedy the basic problem of too many shopping malls, but would make the issue worse, said the Federated Clerical Employees’ Association in its submissions to the select committee hearing submissions in the bill in Wellington today, “More attention in preventing money marketeers from garnering depositors’ investments at high interest rates, and then in turn developing these schemes to yield a higher return again, are the root cause, not the hours of trading,” the association said.

“In contrast to plant and machinery capital costs, and their extended use each day to lower the unit cost of production, this bill seeks to reward the fat cats at the expense of the small merchant, and once more the poor public

is confused about the National Party’s private enterprise philosophy.” The association contends that the initiators of the bill have become- victims Of a myth when dealing with the retail purchase of goods. It appeared that someone had claimed that society would be much better if families could always be together when shopping, the submissions said. “Presumably this includes shopping for bedroom suites, furniture, home appliances, wall* paper, carpets, blinds, as well as suits, dresses, and other forms df adult wear apparel. To test the validity of this so-called betterment of society, we chaF lenge members of the committee to declare how many times they have deliberately taken their children in tow when buy-

ing a suit or a pair of shoes. “When analysed, it is unlikely a child or children can aid parents when making the majority of their purchases. Invariably they detract, rather than contribute. “However perhaps this is not the issue. Extendedhours shopping is designed to ensure that both husband and wife are together when making major purchases. “As it is still rare in New Zealand to find both husband and wife working in the same firm, during the same hours, if the committee wants to make certain they will both be able to shop at the same time, then both should have a stated period off allowed during their ordinary working hours for this purpose,” the association said.