SHOP ASSISTANTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 4, 5 July 1939, Page 6

SHOP ASSISTANTS

PROPOSED AWARD

FRUITGROWERS CONCERNED

(By Teiegraphr-Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, July 4,

The possible effect of. the proposed Dominion shop assistants' award on fruitgrowers was discussed at the annual Otago provincial conference of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation in Roxburgh on Monday, when a letter was read from the secretary of the Otago Retai? Fruiterers' Association, who, .on behalf of that organisation, requested the conference to cooperate in a protest against the terms of the awafd, specially the clauses dealing with hours of work.

After a brief discussion, it was decided that the following resolution should be submitted to the annual conference of the New Zealand Federation:— •■■.■■-:,

"Its attention having been drawn to i the proposed Dominion shop assistants' award, i^hich, if put into effect, would greatly curtail the hours in which fruit can be sold by retailers, this conference would urgently protest against such curtailment. It is estimated that curtailment of hours as suggested by the proposed award would reduce sales very considerably. The lot of the fruitgrower is already sufficiently precarious, and such action would greatly accentuate the position. | Further, the closing hours, by reducing the working time, would jeopardise the position of assistants employed in' fruit shops." . • .