THE SMALL NEWSAGENT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2501, 30 June 1915, Page 11

THE SMALL NEWSAGENT

DISSATISFIED WITH CHANGED HOLIDAY. It would seem that the closing of now6-agents' shops on Saturday afternoon and evening, in place of the Wednesday, has had the effect of reducing tho amount of reading dono by tho public oil Sunday, and numerous booksellers, aud particularly the owners of the smaller shops, are already viewing with some concern the decrease in their turnover consequent upon tho change in tho statutory half-holiday. With a view to relieving the situation, several of the proprietors of the shops concerned have suggested that a practice followed in Sydney should be made to apply to Wellington, namely, that a permit should be given to the proprietor to keep open on Saturday afternoon or evening, or both, so long as the employees are given the half-holi-I day. Speaking to a reporter yesterday, tho owner of one shop where no employees are kept, expressed indignation at such an "iniquitous law," that compelled him to stop working just when he looked to do his best day's work. Ho pointed out that books and papers were coming in every day, and whereas a man could buy his weekly stock of tobacco and matches on any day of the week, it was not convenient to purchase his weekly supply of Sunday reading matter on the Friday. The workman could not get it before ihe shop closed on Saturday under the new arrangement. Unlike other commodities, if the books and papers are not bought on Saturday the need is not felt for them during iho rest of the week, for a large number of people do all their extra reading on Sunday. "J know my business has gone down by 35 per cent, through this change," said one bookseller, 'iuo Carnival iiad some ell'eot, but mostly it was due to the closing on Saturday. How the change had caused loss of trade in a similar business in Christchuroii was related by one shopkeeper. The instance was that of a sliop where the owner aud his wife were the only workers. On the Saturday under the late closing system they took about £25 for the day. Since the change their Monday takings had 6hown a very slight increase, out up to midday on Saturday they were only able to take from £3 to £i. That had been the experience after weeks of trial. It meant Mat tho owners were nearly ruined. "Legislation to rob the masses of their only means of general educational advance," was how ono shopkeeper expressed hie idea of the change. He favoured tho idea that permits should bo given to tho proprietors of small •shops, so that tlioy could keep open on tho Saturday night. Ho did not see the force of being put on the same plane as the large manufacturing stationer and bookseller. The manager of a larger concern objected to such a law taking his business away from him. He had to pay his rent, aud thought he .should be allowed to work on tho days best suited for his business, even if he had to let his employees away. In another way tho change was not appreciated. He was paying his assistants salary and commission on sales, and since tho change ono of his girls had been earning on an average 15s. less per week, while the weekly takings went down by £20. Saturday in the past had been equal to any other four days of the week, and apparently there was no chance of recovering that business unless they could keep open on Saturday. Further, it was pointed out that some chcmists in Wellington were permitted to sell daily papers at all hours on the Saturday, thus further cutting into the trade of the small news-agent.