Call by dairy group to change trading act

Press, 21 July 1982, Page 28

Call by dairy group to change trading act

PA Wellington The Dairy Association wants Parliament to change the Shop Trading Hours Act to prevent service stations going into open competition with them. The association's secretary, Mr B. H. Woodley, said that direct competition was already underway in Auckland and could expand to other areas, including Wellington. Some service stations were selling bread and milk. . Mr Woodley said dairy owners could be forced out of business if service stations were allowed to compete directly with them. “One factor which makes service stations unsuitable as food outlets is the requirement for food hygiene,” said Mr Woodley. . .

"Service station attendants handled petrol, oil, and other unhealthy chemicals, not to mention grease’ and grime. The necessary standards of hygiene as required of retail dairies seem unlikely to be met.” 1 But the executive director of the Motor Trade. Association, Mr Max Barclay,, said: "We believe our members should sell what they are legally able to do. This is just,the old-fashioned, spirit of competition. The consumer benefits."

Mr Barclay said service stations had moved away from traditional lines be-

cause the margin on petrol no longer provided a sufficient income and because main-street shops had moved into areas such as car spare parts and home oil.

“The second reason is that we believe the public want it,” he said.

The Secretary of Labour. •Mr G. L. Jacksbn, warned the association last month that service stations could be prosecuted just for violating the act ' i