Saturday-trade talks ‘not before March’

Press, 26 December 1979, Page 2

Saturday-trade talks ‘not before March’

PA Wellington! Possible changes to shop: trading hours will not be, considered by the Government before the end of February. I The Minister of Labour,! JMr Bolger) has confirmed I that he will meet shop' 'employee and retailer representatives rly in the New Year for discussions.

The secretary of the Wellington Shop Employees’ Union (Mr G. Kelly) said that there would be no discussions with anybody before the end of February ai the earliest. “Come famine or feast, we won’t be dealing with anyone until we have consultec our membership," he said. During the two weeks

; beginning February 11, all shop employees’ unions Throughout New Zealand I would begin meetings to )gather members’ views. ) Mr Bolger said that agree- ; merit for the parties to have more detailed discussions on .the issue arose out of a deputation which met him last week. Representatives of the Shop Employees’ Association. including a member of :the Wellington union, and I Retailers’ Association representatives, met him briefly to discuss the issue. Mr Bolger said both parties agreed that public attitudes to Saturday trading had changed, the association agreeing to a lesser extent. But there were no detailed discussions on possible changes to the Shop Trading Hours Act. I Mr Bolger declined to ioffer his personal views on ] Saturday shopping;, all he I could really do over Christ-mas-New Year was to keep 'an eve on the situation.