Sunday shopping will not lead to decline—councillor

Press, 30 July 1986, Page 9

Sunday shopping will not lead to decline—councillor

Letting New Brighton shops open on Sundays would not lead to the decline of New Zealand civilisation, said a Christchurch City councillor yesterday.Cr Vicki Buck told the council’s community services and health committee that Sunday trading was inevitable, and that it was inconsistent to allow only certain shops, such as those selling hot bread or ice-cream, to open on Sundays. The committee, however, rejected a recommendation to endorse Sunday shopping in New Brighton, by four votes to three. Crs Ruby Fowler, Clive Cotton, and Alistair James, together with the Mayor of Christchurch, Sir Hamish Hay, were against the recommendation. It was supported by Crs Kathy Lowe, Morgan Fahey, and Noala Massey. Cr Buck was not entitled to vote as she is not a member of the committee.

The council has been asked by .the Shop Trading Hours Commission to

comment on the application for Sunday trading made by the New Brighton District Business Association. The association had also written to the council, saying that the Sunday trading move was an attempt to re-establish the shopping centre’s status as a special holiday and tourist centre. Cr James said he was totally opposed to Sunday trading unless it could be shown that it was required for tourism. Many shops in New Brighton, however, did not cater for the tourist market, and there was a danger the other areas could also get Sunday trading. Several councillors were worried that employees would be pressured to work on Sundays and this could cut family life.

Cr Buck said this attitude was “a disease which often affects this council.” It wanted everyone in the community to have the same "Sunday dullness.” Reports from council staff showed that Sunday trading would not cause

problems of car-parking or traffic access, but it would place extra re-' quirements on cleaning litter bins and toilets. The committee’s chairman, Cr Massey, said after the meeting that the finance and policy committee would also consider the issue. It was possible that a different decision would be made by that committee. Job promotion The council should maintain an interest in employment in spite of the scaling down of the council’s employment promotion division, said Cr Buck.

Unless this was done the council would not be able to respond to the community’s employment needs, and the council’s credibility and experience in this field might disappear for ever, she said.

The phasing-down of the division is a result of the Government’s decision to end temporary employment schemes.

The committee recommended that an employment officer be retained within the council’s community services division. Police office The police will run a training session for the 50 people who have volunteered to run the police kiosk in Cathedral Square. After the session council representatives and the police will select volunteers who will go on to further training organised by the council’s community services staff. The council’s community adviser, Mr Alister Graham, said the police had asked for the building to be called a "community police office” rather than a kiosk. Festival drinks Drinking in Christchurch malls could .be a feature of the Christchurch Floral Festival to be held on March 7, 1987. The organisers have asked for council permission to hold a "Carnival of the Flowers” in Cashel Street, High Street,' and

nearby malls. As part of a cosmopolitan or Bohemian atmosphere taverns have been asked to extend their drinking areas into the malls.

The community services and health committee approved this suggestion, but felt that plastic glasses and jugs should be used to avoid broken glass in streets. Art gallery The Robert McDougall Art Gallery has sought permission to accommodate 500 visitors and to open on Sundays. The committee heard that technically the art gallery should not have more than 100 visitors at one time, and recommended that a public building licence be granted provided fire, exit, and health requirements were met.

The gallery’s director, Mr John Coley, said later that the licence would merely formalise the gallery’s present situation. It was needed for such functions as Te Maori exhibition.