CLOSING SATURDAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21899, 18 December 1945, Page 2

CLOSING SATURDAY

GISBORNE SHOPS

LATE NIGHT FRIDAY

RETAILERS’ DECISION

Retail shops in Gisborne will close on Saturdays, commencing on January 5^ Shopping hours will be 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m, on Fridays. This decision was made at a public meeting called by the Gisborne and East Coast Retailers’ Association and held last night. Forty retailers attended and the motion was carried with only one dissentient voice, although earlier the degree of unanimity was less marked. Mr. H. Gilmer, who was elected chairman, said the purpose of the meeting was to decide what the retailers should do after January 1.

Mr. H, R. Kendon said no _ matter what was decided by the meeting, the position after June 1 was that shops had to close on Saturdays. “No Choice After June”

“We can decide what we can do between now and June 1: after that we have no option but. to close," he added. The chairman: The Arbitration Court will decide the question long before June.

Mr. M. J. White said his interpretation of the Act was that after June 30 shops might only be open for five days a week. What days shops would remain onen would be decided by the Arbitration Court.

The chairman said that what was desired was a united Gisborne.

“If we are to open on Saturdays, then let us: if we are to close on Saturdays, then let us do so.” he said. Mr. P W. Bushnell said it was going to be very difficult to get unanimity. In some trades the major part of the work fell in one part of the week: in others, business was more spread out. Who was to be considered —customers, staff or the employers? “Personally. I think we should make it as convenient to the public as possible,” he continued. “Closing on Saturdays is no good to my trade. It might apply to others also. I see no harm in those who want to close on the Saturday doing so. and those who want to keep open, remaining open.” Position of Small Businesses

Mr. G. Chrisp: Can a one-man _ business remain open if the owner wishes? The chairman: The hours of closing shops will be fixed by the Arbitration Court.

Mr. W. Findlay: Will they fix the hours of small dairies and other similar businesses?

Mr White: The Arbitration Court may fix hours irrespective of whether any assistants are employed in these shops. Mr. Kendon: The legislators are not prepared to go to the whole limit. Until they legislate that way, I think we should say what we are going to do. I move that we as retailers of Gisborne close our premises on Saturdays and carry out a 40-hour week on the other days of the week. I think the time has come when we should say: “We will carry out your 40-hour week and see where you get.” Mr. R. A. Dudfield seconded the motion.

Monday Closing Amendment

Mr. Bushneli suggested that the meeting might consider closing on Monday morning and remaining open on Friday night and Saturday morning. “It can be done this way and may suit some,” he said. One retailer said if they were not careful they might lose Friday night. Therefore, he advocated closing on Saturday. Mr. Bushnell moved as an amendment that shops should close on Monday mornings and remain open on Saturday mornings. * ~ Mr. R. Maddock seconded the amendment.

A further amendment was moved by Mr J. Green, seconded by Mr G. Chrisp, that the hours be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Mr, Findlay said that as far as the baking industry was concerned, it could not open at 9 a.m., as the pressure of work fell in the mornings. “If we close on Saturday mornings, l we will have to increase our plant by half, just to cope with the amount of baking that will have to be done on one day. It will also be difficult to get staff,” he added. The manager of one chain store said that although Saturday closing would be adooted by his company in some other parts, the Gisborne branch would abide by ihe decision of the meeting. The manager of another firm with branches throughout New Zealand said he had received instructions to close on Saturdays. Mr. Bushnell withdrew his amendment and that of Mr. Green was lost, six voting in favour of it. Mr. Kendon’s motion was carried.