Mayor opposed to week-end shopping
A drop in property values in the central business area and increased rates in other areas would be some of the detrimental effects of Saturday trading, according to the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. G. Hay) yesterday. Mr Hay and members of the Christchurch City Council heard a deputation from the Shop Employees’ Union present submissions on the prospect of changes to the law to allow Saturday trading. Led by the secretary’ of the union (Mr B. Alderdice), the deputation outlined the effects Saturday trading would have on Christchurch.
Mr Hay said he agreed with the deputation and that the main effect of liberalising week-end trading laws would be a
spread of- existing retail trade from the central business area to the suburbs.
“This could only have a detrimental effect on the central city area that would lower property values and shift the incidence of rating to other areas,” he said. A significant proportion of the rates came from the central business area and the council had a vested interest in it remaining virile, he said.
The council had not had an occasion to consider the question of Saturday trading in Christchurch for over 30 years.
“The council has no recent policy, but l am sure the councillors would be concerned with anything that could adversely effect
the central business area,” said Mr Hay. There was no evidence of strong support from employers for Saturday trading in the Christchurch area and most retailers wanted the status quo to remain, said Mr Hay. The Shop Employees’ Union was not opposed to the Saturday trading that existed at New Brighton. It was concerned with the undermining effect Saturday trading at Bishopdale and Hornby would have on New Brighton, he said. The union had hoped the council would support a remit at the forthcoming municipal conference opposing Saturday trading, said Mr Hay. A copy of the union’s submissions would be presented to the council for further discussion, he said.
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Press, 8 February 1980, Page 4
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331Mayor opposed to week-end shopping Press, 8 February 1980, Page 4
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