ILLEGAL TRADING

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 May 1938, Page 3

ILLEGAL TRADING

“SMALL SHOPS'" CRITICISED. [PER .PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, May IS. A protest against illicit after-hour and Sunday trading was made when representatives of the New Zealand Retail Tobacconists’ and Master Grocers’ Association, aml other retailers’ organisations met. in Wellington 10-nighi. to consider combating what, was described a definite menace to Jrcilimate traders throughout the Dominion. Speakers emphasised' that the small shopkeeper who was not required to pay high rents, wages and ether overhead costs, could operate much more cheaply than the refailei in a. bigger way who was compelled by law to trade within more restricted hours. The meeting objected to dairies and small shops selling groceries land other lines which could not be Isold by larger shops after certain Ihcurs. | A deputation was appointed to wait !on the Crime Minister (Mr Savage), 'and the following resolution was car- | j.j,, ,i : — “That the interests of the legitimate traders here represented are! ibeing seriously affected by illicit after,hm:r and Sunday trading, and that J instability in employment is inevit.alile as a. result of this. As there ihavc been assurances by responsible I Ministers of the present Government that the amended Shops, and. Offices Bill will contain clauses sufficiently |comprehensive to eliminate illicit tradjing. this meeting shall appoint a representative deputation, who shall wait on the Prime Minister to speak for the majority of the legitimate retail traders of the Dominion, urging the justice, urgency and vital necessity' of bringing down a bill during the last session of the present Parliament.” The meeting decided also to sot up • an active committee to formulate a ■ plan for a new act and to make sug- • gestions to the Minister for Labour (Hon. H. T. Armstrong) that would be of assistance to him and lead to the i proper control of retail trade and : would look after the interests of the ’ trade generally.