Business at Standstill

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6840, 22 April 1932, Page 8

Business at Standstill

Riot Reaction in Auckland MAYOR’S APPEAL FOR NORMAL BUYING Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 21. An early return to ordinary business routine in tho city is urged by tho Mayor, Mr Hutchison, who expresses tho opinion that the late shopping night should bo held as usual to-mor-row and that tlioso retailers whoso windows aro still barricaded should, if possible, remove the barricades by the week-end. He has the assurance of the exocutivo of 'the Unemployed Workers’ Association that, in tho event of a recurrence of the rioting members of tho Association will assist in protecting citizens’ property. With regard to the unemployed workers’ strike, tho Mayor says the representations of the men’s association havo heepi discussed by their delegates with Ilian and tho chairman of the Harbour Transport and Power Boards, and it was hoped to arrive at a common basis for submission to the Government.

Hopeless State of Trade It is now nearly a week since the mob ran riot in Queen Street, but tho effects of the madness, it seefs, will be felt for a long time to come. A suggestion that shopkeepers have got over their wrath and havo ceased to worry about their losses is given an emphatic denial everywhere. The loss of business, it is considered in some circles, is more serious than tho smashing and looting done by the rioters. “How can you expect to do business with the windows boarded up as if they were in a war zone?” said one retailer. Since Thursday night, said a retailer, business lias been dead. There were ple.nty of people in the streets, but they were not there to buy. In some cases shopkeepers might just as well shut up their stores and work in the garden at homo. Business had been bad for the last three years, and the sudden stoppage of the littlo buying there had been previously was likely to havo serious consequences. The, wholo machinery of business, ho said, had been interfered with.

A Queen Street jowellpr said it would be some days before lie was able to tell exactly bow much the riot had cost him. On the day following the looting ho had estimated his loss at £SOO, but he believed now that it would be nearer £IOOO. A well-known tobacconist was another who said the effects of tiie ri-t were still being felt. His regular customers came in as usual, but apart from that business was dead.

The proprietor of a men’s outfitting establishment said it was hopeless to attempt to attract trade by window displays. The riots had had a very definite reaction on the buying public, and little was being sold outside absolute necessities. There was no doubt, he said, that the loss caused through the riot would put a number of smaller shopkeepers out of business. Among those who have suffered substantial losses financially through the riot aro tho picture theatre proprietors. In their case no stock can be taken, but the effect upon attendances lia3 been crushing. The total loss in money cannot bo ascertained, but managers estimate it at from 50 to 60 per cent.