N.Z. SHOPKEEPERS' ASSO= CIATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 186, 1 May 1908, Page 8

N.Z. SHOPKEEPERS' ASSO= CIATION.

"INDUSTRIES" WEEK. , SHILLINGS FOR DOLLARS. Sovoral interesting rpiestions -wero discussed by the Executivo. Committeo of tho New Zealand Shopkeepers' Association, at a meeting held yesterday afternoon. There 'wero present-tho President, Mr. H. H. Seaton (in tho chair), Messrs. H. Inglis, H. J. Hunter and J. T. Millington. Plans for New Zoaland industries wcok (June 4 to 10) wore advanced ono stage further. Tho' secretary (Mr. H. F. Allen) reported that tho shipping companies declined • to grant excursion fares, but the Minister for Railways had promised to consider carefully a request for oxcursion train fares. An application was being made to tho City Council for permission to place streamers on tho tram cars advertising the project, and he had reason to believe, that the request would be favourably considered. Mr. Alien road a long list of tradesmen and manufacturers who had offered to exhibit. It was agreed that different members of -the' Association should interview shopkeepers in different streets,, and that a circular should bo prepared for tho information of shopkeepers,, setting forth the objects of the movement. i, Mr.. Millington proposed that shopkeepers be ' asked to "make special gaslight displays during industries week. Tho. proposition was adopted. , . HALF HOLIDAY TROUBLES. Mr. Russell D. Martin : wrote concerning the half-holiday, quostion at Nelson./ Ho stated that the Saturday half-holiday had been'forced'upon the'town, and was very seriously affecting business. All sorts of reasonable means had been tried to indueo the' Government to alter tho law, but without effect. • It . was now proposed by shopkeepers to close on- Wednesdays and open on Saturdays to tost the matt-OT. /The action of tho shopkeepers would: be strengthened if it had the approval of tho Association. Mr. Martin also wroto inquiring as to the objects of tho Association - and -conditions of affiliation; ,Ho was desirous of forming Associations at Nelson and Blenheim, which ho. would, like to seo affiliated to tho Now Zealand Association. ... To these communications the Secretary had replied as follows:— ' ". '/ . "Members of this' Association sym- - pathiso with tho. shopkeepers of. Nelson in that a day unsuitablo to-.thorn has been forced on them through what is considered here, and elsowheio, power i given in most unfair legislation. .Tho Executive. Committeo of. this Associa-. ; tion cannot, however, support'-an:idea .to defy the law, as you suggest,may bo .done iii Nelson., .The legislation giving 'power for the referendum was ( hrought / before tho ,-Kouso last ■ session during the. closing: hours, and put . through bc- ' fore ,tho majority of our legislators knew anything,about it. t The Executivo Com-,''.'' .' ..mit-tee -of this. Association did all. it. . conld, under such short notice as it had, : but was unable, for tho reason stated, to prevent tho passing of tho clause as an amendnifcnt to the Shops and Olncos Act. It/would bo Aviso ,if. tho',.shopkeepers in Nelson and elsewhero were to form a Shopkeepers'. Union in their re-' specti_ve_-cities, and affiliate with this ■ Association." •/ ~ - \ The . reply was approved, ' the - Chairman stating that tho . shopkeepors deserved sj-mpathy, ■as only two shops, had: been favourable to the Saturday half-holi-day; and since the new system came into ferco receipts had 'greatly fallen off.- ■ THE AMERICAN FLEET. The Chairman drew attention to a matter which lie said was of great importance' to Auckland shopkeepers. The American' Fleet was coming to Auckland' in August, direct from Honolulu, as lie understood. Tliero wore/from I2jooo t0.13,000 men in'the, squadron, who would all .bo .'provided with American money.: : ;New Zoaland was in/the unfortunate position qf \-not having an ■ oxchango bureau, , and though . Cook's Agency' oxchanged money sometimes for the , convenience of travellers, it did not do so as a^'-busi-ness. "Tho lowest sum which the fleet visitors might' bo expected to spend' in. Auckland was ■ 100,000 dollars, or £20,000. : That was at: tho low average rate of- 30s. for each man. If there was no oxchango. bureau, not a penny would bo spent in-the city, except by tho small number of sailors who. would como provided with English gold. It would bo an act of great courtesy and of.great benefit,to Auckland if the Government . established .'-a •>temporary, ,/exchango bureau in connection with the Tourist Department, where, for a small fee or at ordinary- par| American, money might be exchanged for English., Ho moved that a letter should bo sent 'direct-to tho Premier conveying this recommendation.,, Ho had known American visitors-to this country go to all tho banks in, vain, in an endeavour to exchange their country's coin. The English sovereign could be,used _all over the world,'but it was not so with American money. ,' ' , - ITho. Secretary thought that the Mayor of Auckland had lately ma.do some statement on-this matter.; i'-It was' decided that, even if action was being taken in, another quarter, there could be no harm in writing to the Premier,'and the motion: was/adopted. The Secretary, reported that there wore 42 outstanding subscriptions.- Half of these ho cxpectcd would - come in as soon as "reminders" were sent out.