SHOPPING HOURS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 276, 18 August 1944, Page 4

SHOPPING HOURS

Retention Of Five-and-a-Half Day Week RETAILERS’ DECISION

The ballot recently conducted by the N.Z. Retailers’ Federation among retailers throughout the Dominion, with the exception of the Auckland province, which has a separate award for shop assistants, resulted in favour of the retention of the five-and-a-half-day shopping week, This decision was made known at a meeting of the council of the federation held in Wellington this week, and reverses the decision of the conference held last April, when it was agreed, by a narrow majority, to support the policy of the introduction of a five-day week. Because of new circumstances arising, however, it was felt necessary to conduct a ballot among individual members. Extreme concern was expressed at the continued shortage of civilian garmentsIt was decided to forward the following resolution to the Minister of Supply: “That the federation, while acknowledging the splendid efforts being made by the national garment control council to overtake the shortages in essential civilian requirements, feels that the position has not been fully met. r ?he federation registers an emphatic protest against the delay in dealing with the important problem of manpower, and urges the Government to take immediate steps to speed up the release of men and women for factory production.” . The Government is also to be requested to review the whole question of priorities of manufacture with a view to giving the civilian public the greatest possible supplies of essential garments. Disappointment was expressed at the absence of any adjustment in the sales tax anomalies evident in connexion with diaper doth, children’s school hats and eaps. babies’ bonnets, and so on. and it was agreed again to press the representations already made to the Minister. 'Addresses were given to the conference by the Rationing Controller. Mr. J. E Thomas, and by Mr. N. E. Dalmer, of the textile section of the Ministry of Supply.