SHOP HOURS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 115, 17 May 1930, Page 7

SHOP HOURS

EVIDENCE BEFOBE COMMITTEE

(By Telegraph.—Prtss Association.)

CHEISTCHUKCH, 16th May.

■ Appearing before the committee, which is hearing evidence on the Shops and Offices Act, representatives of the Christchurch Hairdressers' and Tobacconists' Association asked that automatic vending, machines be classed as shops and brought under, the closing provision. \ The association desired to retain the power of fixing closing hours by a requisition of the majority in any trade and' the right of each tobacconist to select his half-holiday himself. Where closing hours were fixed in any trade the association considered that all shops selling goods in that trade should be closed at pre-! scribed hours. The association asked that the purchaser as well as the seller should be liable to a fine where a sale was made after the prescribed hours. The Master Bakers' Union asked that uniform closing hours be enforced for each trade, and no alteration' of these hours be allowed either by requisition or the Court of Arbitration. ' Opposition to exemptions from uniform closing hours being allowed was expressed by the 'Seedsmen's Association. They asked that their hours be the same as for other trades. They had no objection to fruiterers selling seeds and plants so long as , those things were not sold after seedsmen's closing hours. Florists asked that trading hours be fixed by legislation, .and that fruiterers be-not allowed to sell flowers after florists' closing hours.