AMENDING PROPOSAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 81, 2 October 1940, Page 11

AMENDING PROPOSAL

STRONG OBJECTION

RETAILERS' SIDE

If the proposed amendment to the Shops and Offices' Act means, as Mr. : C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., supposes, that permanent Saturday morning closing and eventual abolition of late shopping night is aimed at, then the Wellington Chamber of Commerce will have none of it. What was described as a continuous de- ; mand for further concessions and shorter hours during a war period , was condemned by speakers at the monthly meeting of the chamber last night. ' j A circular letter sent out by Mr. 1 Wilkinson was read by Mr. M. F. 3 Luckie. The writer stated that, in effect, if the proposed legislation be- ' came law the right to determine the 1 day of the weekly half-holiday, the < opening and closing hours for shops, . also the right to continue the late shopping night as well as Saturday morning trading would all be deter- s mined by a Judge of the Arbitration i

Court. Mr. Wilkinson summed up his views of the.proposal, as follows: — "The real drive in-connection with this Bill in my opinion is:— 1. To close the shops permanently on Saturday mornings, which • would" be a great inconvenience to the general public and the farming community, as well as a serious loss to business people. 2. To eventually do away with late shopping night, which would be highly detrimental to all, including those unions who may be pressing for the legislation. 3. To make the weekly half-holi-day universal on Saturdays. (This is optional at present.)" Mr. Luckie said Mr. Wilkinson thought this was a move to still further shorten hours of work at a time when the country should be putting forth its best war effort. A move should, be made by the chamber and other bodies to make representations to the Government. If the amendment was to be introduced it shoul" be referred to a committee so that an opportunity could be given to those affected to tender evidence. All business people had been adversely affected by vvar conditions and this Bill would still further embarrass them if its real purpose was as Mr. Wilkinson suggested.

"POSITIVELY SICKENING." "The perpetual demand for concessions is positively sickening during- a war period," said the president (Mr. R. H. Nimmo). "If this proposal became law it would result in a great hold-up and inconvenience to the commercial community and the public. It is a wonder the people put up with it. One doesn't mind reasonable concessions, but this perpetual demand for concessions is not helpful and is simply retarding the progress of the country.''

Mr. W. H. Hindle said the Prime Minister had state* that the matter would come up again di ing the present Parliament. Some action should be taken now by the Associated Chambers of Commerce to have its representations ready when the Bill came before Parliament again. Every member of the House should be circularised with an explanation of the real purpose of the amendment. Stating that the Bill proposed to delegate certain powers to the Arbitration Court, Mr. F. Wilson said the employers and the employees each had their advocates in proceedings before the Court, but there was no advocate there for the general public. It was proposed in the Bill that the one sheet anchor, having regard to the service due to the public, was going to be removed.

"The retailer has had to face a number of difficulties —staff difficulties, rationing difficulties, and zoning difficulties," said Mr. Wilson. "Surely he has enough to put up with today in trying to win through and make his contribution to the war effort."

It was decided to refer the matter to the Associated Chambers of Commerce with a recommendation that representations should be made to the Government.