SHOPPING HOURS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 259, 30 September 1936, Page 8

SHOPPING HOURS

LATE NIGHT EXTENSION. CLOSING AT 9 P.M. A representative meeing of retailers of Palmerston North was held today to consider the closing hours on Friday nights. Mr K. A. Henderson was' in the chair and read seveial apologies for absence. After a free discussion it was decided to extend tho shopping' hours from 8.30 to 9 p.m., the change to take effect next week. ,iii The chairman said a month had elapsed since the change from w ednesday to Saturday for the hall-day, and the business people had now had time to see the effects of the change of trading hours. He asked for expressions of opinion from those, present. . , Mr W. H. Wilson, speaking on behalf of the drapers, said they felt that the loss of trade between o.oU and 9 p.m. on Friday was detrimental. They had held a meeting and it had been desired to hear expressions of opinion from other sections of the business community. They had been almost unanimous that the extra half-hour on Friday was necessary for women shoppers. Mr H. W. Boris, on behalf of the grocers, said they had not held a meeting. He could not express an opinion for the. grocers as a whole. Xne grocers in the Square desired the extra half-hour on the I riday, but he did not know the feelings of those in the suburbs. Mr C. A. Mack ay said he thought the grocers in the Square would do the same as the drapers, hive minutes iu the morning could be eliminated and restored to make up the half-hour on J) riday nigiits. . Mr W. Jri. Boon expressed similar opinions. Mr M. Millar said his business opened early in the morning and he would like to see the 8.30 closing retained. Mr G. Watchorn said he did not desire to express a particular opinion, but business with his firm had been definitely better Jast month as compared with the corresponding month last year. He would fall in with the decision of the majority. Mr L. J. Cornwell (Woolworths, Ltd.) favoured, the extension to 9 p.m. His business was always crowded at 8.30 and the extra half-hour would be appreciated by shoppers, he said. Mr H. L. Cunninghame offered the suggestion that the shops keep open until 9 p.m. during the months of daylight saving, and revert to the other hours during the winter. Mr L. Martin said booksellers were in favour of returning to 9 p.m. closMr F. Hutchins said his objection to 9 p.m. closing was that the staff should be considered. Mr C. Carr (H. L. "i oung and Coy.) opposed the suggestion that the houis be extended to 9 p.m. Much of their business was done with school cliiidren and they commenced at 8.15 a.m., he said. . On the motion of Mr M. N. Wallace, seconded by Mr V. Goldfinch, it was decided that from next week the shopping hours on Friday be from 8.50 a.m. to 9 p.m. The chairman called for expressions of opinion on the effect of the change from Wednesday to Saturday for the half-day. Several speakers said that they were entirely satisfied. There was no response when the chairman asked anyone to speak who was opposed to the change.