Council backs Sunday trading

Press, 26 August 1986, Page 1

Council backs Sunday trading

New Brighton has Christchurch City Council support for Sunday trading.

The council last evening voted to support the shopping centre’s application to the Shop Trading Hours Commission to trade on Sundays. The commission had sought the council’s opinion. One council committee had supported Sunday opening for the seaside centre, one opposed it and one had not made a decision.

Some councillors said last evening they felt Sunday trading would break into family life, creating a staggered, seven-day working week. Others believed the provision for opening on Sundays did not oblige shopowners to

open that day. People might not seek jobs there if they did not want to work on Sunday, one councillor said.

The council’s opinion was just that — an opinion, said Cr Vicki Buck. It should not close doors for businesses that wished to open to provide jobs.

Council staff do not expect many problems with the extra opening. The Acting City Planner has warned that local residents may not appreciate their Sundays being disturbed, but he supports Sunday trading as a means of emphasising the unique tradition of New Brighton shopping. In supporting the Business Association’s application, the council felt New Brighton was a special case and would not set a precedent for Sunday opening elsewhere. They said that staff would have to be given “adequate protection” by employers.