BOOKSELLERS ATTITUDE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 227, 8 September 1936, Page 6

BOOKSELLERS ATTITUDE

Opposed to Any Change

The matter of the half-holiday, and proposed change to Saturday afternoon. was fully discussed at a meeting of the Hastings branch of the Hawke’s Bay Booksellers’ Association yesterday and it was decided to oppose the change. Tlie president of the branch, Mr. C. Brook, eaid in a statement to the “Tribune” that the matter had been discussed from all viewpoints and members were emphatic on the point that the proposed change would be definitely detrimental to their particular line o£ business.

“We had reports from other towns and these reports showed that the change resulted in definite losses to business,” he said. “The difficulty with us is that people like to collect their week-end reading on Saturday, particularly the country clients, and if they cannot get it then there is the possibility of their making other arrangements, which might well mean transacting the business through different channels.” One other matter Mr. Brook mentioned was that if Saturday closing was decided upon it might lead to the setting up of stalls outside the shops, and this would result in the proprietors having no half-day at all, for they would have to take charge of the stalls.