MASTER GROCERS

Grey River Argus, 20 May 1938, Page 11

MASTER GROCERS

WANT RESTRICTIONS.

PUT UPON THE SMALL SHOPS,

[Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May 18.

A protest against illicit after-hour and Sunday trading was made when representatives of the New Zealand Retail Tobacconists’ and Master Grocers’ Association, and other retailers’ organisations met in Wellington to-night to consider combating what was described as a definite menace to legitimate traders throughout the Dominion. Speakers emphasised that the small shopkeeper who was not required to pay high rents, wages and other overhead costs, could operate much more cheaply than the retailei 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 arid other lines which could not be sold by larger shops after- certain hours. A deputation was appointed to wait on the Prime Minister (Mr Savage), and the following resolution was carried:—“That the interests of the legitimate traders here represented are being seriously affected by illicit af-ter-hour and Sunday trading, and that instability jn employment is inevitable as a result of this. As there have been assurances by responsible Ministers of the present Government that the amended Shops and Offices Bill will contain clauses sufficiently comprehensive to eliminate illicit trading, 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 set upj an active committee to formulate a plan for a new act and to make suggestions to the Minister for Labour (Hon. T. Armstrong) that would be of assistance to him and lead to the proper control of retail trade and would look after the interests of the trade generally.