IS IT ALIVE?

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 57, 8 March 1913, Page 9

IS IT ALIVE?

THE SHOPKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Grandiloquently designating itself the New Zealand Shopkeepers' Association (no less), that one time earnest and hardworking body 'composed of local shopkeepers eai'ly in its career made a conscientious endeavour to justify its title and existence. It was a "N.Z." association at first, because it was hoped to obtain affiliation with three other such bodies, including Auckland and Christchurch, but that little arrangement fell through. Nominally, the aim and object of the New Zealand (that is, the Wellington) Shopkeepers' Association was to conserve the interests of smaller business men. Ex- > cellent work was accomplished in connection with, for, instance, the early closing legislation, and the registration of proprietors. But times have changed —~the association has apparently gone into a decline, and, it is on record, has not L held a meeting for over twelve months. Is the association only intensely apathetic, or is it moribund? Enquiries as to its health were made by a P<?st representative a few days ago, but several members (they ' believe themselves to be members .still) disclaimed sadly any knowledge of the patient. All they knew was that there had been no meetings. So far as can be gathered, a very small minority of members have borne the heat and burden of the day. It is they who have planned the campaign and beaten up forces, while their comrades stood by passive. It was so when Labour laßt made a bold bid to have the weekly half-holiday changed to Saturday. -One or two spirited business men got to work and organised so successfully that Wednesday , was retained. Labour is, and' has been, hard at work for weeks past in its endeavour to turn the scales this year, but the association (is there still this association?), as a working body, continues successfully to do nothing.' Following on the article on the half-holiday question published in The Post a week or two since, we were able to state that a -canvass .is being made among the shopkeepers in favour of Wednesday, and that ,300 signatures had been secured. Apparently this is the result of private enterprise.