SHOP PROTECTION ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIII, Issue 13783, 23 June 1905, Page 2

SHOP PROTECTION ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the Shop Protection Association was held last night in the Metaphysical Club Rooms, Gloucester Street, Mr Chudloy presiding. It was mentioned that a circular letter had .been sent to the wholesale houses of Christchurch, pointing out that the closing of the small shops would detrimentally affect the business of the larger shops, as they sold to the smaller shops. The letter solicited the political influence of the larger shopkeepers in the direction of having clause 3 of the Shops and Offices Act repealed. The rules, as adopted, provided that the name of the Association should be the Canterbury Shop Protection Association. The yearly subscription was fixed at ss. The secretary stated that clause 21 could be carried by a bare majority, and did not require a two-thirds majority as previously supposed. Mr Telford said the Government would not dare to enforce either clause 3or 21. Ho believed the inspectors were bluffing the timid shopkeepers. Messrs Kirby and Hocldinott were appointed delegates to attend a conference in Wellington to protest against the Shops and Offices Act. It was resolved to ask certain local members to forward- to the Association a draft of the amendments to the Act, A letter was read from the Premier, in reply to a communication from the Association putting the case of the small shopkeepers before him. He stated that the suggestions would be duly considered when the amendments to the Act were being drafted.