Meeting of Retailers

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 249, 22 October 1935, Page 8

Meeting of Retailers

FRIDAY HALF-HOLIDAY FOR SHOW WEEK. At the general meeting of the Palmerston North Retailers’ Association last evening it was resolved that the Mayor he asked to make an immediate announcement in regard to the show week half-holl-day, which is to he changed from ■ the usual day (Wednesday) to the Friday (people’s day at the show). There was a representative attendance of business people and Mr. K. A. Henderson was in the chair until after the minutes had been confirmed, Mr. H. B. Free then taking over. In regard to the proposals for the Christmas and New Year parking in the Square, the chairman reported that these had been approved by the City Council’s traffic inspector. Mr. Free made a special appeal to business people to do all in their power to make the new scheme a success and suggested that one practical way of assisting would be by parking their own cars right away from the special parking area.

In answer to a further question the chairman stated that the proposal put to the Petitions’ Committee had no special reference to Palmerston North. That a request had, been made for n referendum to get a national opinion about universal Saturday closing.

An informal discussion then took place as to whether the Saturday halfholiday was going to be a good thing or a bad thing for the retailers of Palmerston North, and the meeting seemed evenly divided on the matter, arguments that as Palmerston North was a good solid business centre it would be a good thing to let well alone, being offset by the contention that the experience in other centres which had made the change was that those - places had not suffered by the change over to the Saturday.

There was no resolution on the matter, and the discussion was dropped, the meeting being adjourned.