RETAILERS’ AFFAIRS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 17 July 1925, Page 6

RETAILERS’ AFFAIRS.

DISCUSSED LAST EVENING

ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL . MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Haweia Retailers’ Association was held lastevening. when there were present". Messrs AY. Gilbert (president), H. N. Lester, J. Ebbett, D. Strachan, A. H. Hodge, AY. Crompton, M. Barraclough, J. M. West a way, W. J. AYoollett, A. J. Gyde, W. G. Simpson and AV. G. Strange. The president, in submitting the annual report, said that the association had had a successful year in all but nuance. A big programme of work d been carried out, and as a there was a deficiency of £l4 7s Id. There was, however, £8 17s in hand which was earmarked for Christmas decorations at the end of , this year. Continuing, Air Gilbert said that the association could congratulate itself on having instituted a parcels post delivery in Hawera, He did not- know of another town of the same size that had the same facility. As the result of a recommendation from the last annual meeting community lighting was now an accomplished fact. The 88 200-'eandle-power lamps were appreciated by shopkeepers and townspeople alike. Christmas ’decorations and illuminations had again been carried out by the executive, and in addition the chil-. dren were given a treat in the form of a Father Christmas parade. In spite of the fact that shopkeepers were ver,v busy' at that time of the year the parade had been carried out successfully, hut he suggested that another year arrangements l be taken in hand earlier, so that other associations might be induced to assist. Early in the year the executive had been approached by the Chamber of Commerce with a view to merging, hut the executive had finally turned the proposal down, they taking up the attitude that whilst it was desirous that the Chamber of Commerce should he a live, energetic organisation, the Retailers’ Association could not-'see its wav clear to agree to oink its identity as a separate association, hut suggested that the .retailers should have direct representation on the council of the Chamber of Commerce. The scheme had since been out into operation. A few weeks ago the executive had decided to make a canvass for new members, and the result had been very encouraging. All the larger retailers were now members, as were Quite a number of the smaller ones. In eonelusion. the president said that the past year had been one of the most strenuous and one of the most successful that the association had yet experienced. Tho report and bnlance-she&t were then adopted. EASTER SATURDAA” HOLIDAY. The question of deleting the Easter Saturday holiday was touched lightly upon, hilt received no open support. The chairman said he thought that it was agreed that the four days’ holjday at Easter proved a very nice break for everyone. RETAILERS IMPOSED UPON. The increasing demands on retailors •v persons taking round subscription lists provoked considerable discussion, Air AVWlett suggesting that members

of the* association should contribute to a special fund which mould'be controlled »v the executive, which would make donations on behalf of the whole of the retailers who were members of the association.

It was stated that retailers were called upon to give more Often than any other secton of the community, there being demands every week. Air AA'oollett’s suggestion was fully considered, "out it was decided that it would be difficult to regulate from several points of view. This being the case, it was agreed that the best thing the members could do was to adhere to the association’s .rule prohibiting donations to any subscription list not first approved of by the executive. UNIVERSAL HALF-HOLIDAY. A universal half-holiday for Taranaki was advocated by Air Strange, who urged that the other associations in the province be communicated with &V> that a. decision could be come to. He pointed out that because the half-holi-day was not universal some town s that had been forced into Saturday had to go back to the mid-week holiday. The meeting became sharply divided an the subject, Mr Lester stating that a Saturday half-holiday would .ruin Hawera.

Messrs F.bbett and Simpson that thev could not understand this statement, while AFr Strange replied, pointing out that the people had a certain .spending power, and would huv whether it was Saturday or Alohday. Air West away said that when offices and other such businesses were closed tho retailers should he open. Air Ebbett: “AA’ell, you should keep men on a .Sunday.”

After further discussion, the following recommendation to the executive, moved by AFr Strange, was seconded by Mr Simpson and carried: “That the executive be asked to get into .touch with retailers’ associations in the other Taranaki towns with regard to deciding on a definite half-holiday for the whole of the province.” TECHNICAL SCHOOL FUNDS. It was decided that the association ipnrove of the appeal for' goods to be auctioned with, a view to raising funds for improving the Technical High School grounds. NEW EXECUTIVE. There were seven vacancies on the executive, and on a ballot being held the following were elected-Messrs AV. Gilbert, A. H. Hodge, AV. Crompton, AV. G. Strange, H. N. .Lester, B. C. Bennett, A. J.»Gyde. The three remaining members of the executive were Messrs D. Strachan, J. M. AWstaway, and Al. Barraclough. The following list of new members was submitted bv the secretary: —J. J. Auld, \\ T . T. Johnson, B. Haughton, T. G. Lididngton, Aliss Dav’ey, L. S. Polscn, J .AV. Yearbury, J. A. Dalgety. Al. Hill, H. Stewart, A\ T . G". Simpson, F. H. Ollerenshaw. Wee On and Co., H. J. AA'oollett, Hawera Fruit Co., J. D. Taifc, W. G. Strange, R. Keith, N. T. Bradley, E. O’Reilly, Gyde and Barringer, and S. J. Outran.