EARLY CLOSING LOST.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1718, 8 January 1920, Page 5

EARLY CLOSING LOST.

MEETING OF RETAILERS.

L MS* of the Rotuilers' Association | vvaa hold this mommg for tho purposo of jcliscussmg tho proposal of closing shops 'it o p.m. instead of allowing some shops to remain open and some to close, as has >eon tho custom. There was a good attendance, Mr L. 11. (Jollinson being in the chair.

Mr Collinson thanked membors for their attendance, as the meeting had been called in the morning and ho knew it was difficult for the smaller shopkeopors to g<st away. He went on to say that with regard to the closing of shops at 6 p.m., his linn had already resolved to close their premises at that hour. The amount of Saturday night shopping was growing smaller and' smaller, and as tho grocers saw tit to closo down at "6 o'clock, why could they not ull do so? The sooner they got the universal Saturday half-holi-day tho bettor it would bo for everyone. Mr H. M. Garner said that ho had visited several shopkeepers who were not in favour of tho movement for 6 o'clock closing, and had tried to get them to change their views, but they would not do so, and hold out for closing at 9 o'clock. Mr M. Millar stated that ho felt sure that if some of tho opponents of tho movement would just givo it a trial for a short time, thoy would not go back to the old style of remaining open in tho evening. Ho would liko to soo the mooting givo some expression on the matter, and at least givo tho schomo a chanco. Mr Garner considered that it would bo a. waste of time to discuss tho matter, and moved that tho shops remain open until 9 o'clock.

Mr A. Ilopwood remarked that it would be better to leave the matter as optional. Ho, personally, was closing his premises at six o'clock. He regarded asking employees to work 13 hours a day as right out of date. Ho moved an amendment to Mr Garner's motion, that it should bo optional whether businesses should be closed at 6 o'clock or not. In furthering the causo of closing at 6 o'clock, Mr Collinson Baid that, from a business point of view, his firm had done very well last Saturday, when they commenced their early closing programme. Mr J. Wallaco, speaking for oarly ing, said ho felt sure that the public of Palmerston North would support the movement, for it meant the ljghtoning of the duties of employees. Very soon they would bo forced to" close oarly, for their employees would have a union in this town, and it would be better for tho employers t6 grant tho concession graciously than bo forced into it with a pistol at their heads. It would be a pity if they could not come to an agreement. At least give 6 o'clock closing a trial for a period of throe months. Mr Wallace moved a further amendment, which was seconded by Mr Millar, that the retailers of Paliner.ston North givo 6 o'clock closing a three months' trial. .« , • Mr Ilopwood theroupon withdrew his amendment. Mr Wallace's amendment was lost on a show of hands, and Mr Garner's motion, to tho effect that shops remain_open until 9 p.m., was carried. | Mr Hopwood gave notice of m«*lon that at tho next meeting of the Association he would move that during the next Christmas holidays, shops should bo closed from, Christmas Day until January o. ,