SHOPPING HOURS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25053, 17 November 1944, Page 4

SHOPPING HOURS

FIVE-DAY WEEK CASE ADJOURNMENT OF HEARING "A SUDDEN DEVELOPMENT" The keen interest being taken by housewives in the closing hours of retail shops and the possibility of a five-day week and no Saturday shopping being introduced was indicated in the Arbitration Court yesterday when the parties to the dispute applied for an adjournment of the hearing set down for that day. Among the unusually large public attendance were a number of women representing women's organisations. Mr Croskery, who represented the Auckland Retail Shop Assistants' Union, said that circumstances had suddenly developed which made it impossible for him to go on with the hearing that day. He had immediately informed the employers' representative, who agreed that the case be adjourned until the next time the Court sat in Auckland, sometime in the new year. The Suburban Retailors Mr W. E, Anderson said lie represented the Auckland Suburban Retailers' Association, and a number of other employers who were interested in the dispute, but not parties to it. Mr Justice Tyndall: Are you objecting to an adjournment? Mr Anderson said he was not, but the question of a five-day week was a very important matter to the association for which he appeared. Miss C. Pilkington, a member of the New Zealand Housewives' Association, said they protested against an adjournment being granted. _ While he aid not object to Miss Pilkington appearing in the case that day, said Mr Croskery, he did not know if she had any right to appear. If there was a wish to near her she might be called by Mr Anderson as a witness Present Position Unchanged Referring to the shopping hours he said that at present a number of shopkeepers were observing a five-day week and closing on Saturdays and others were shutting on Friday nights and keeping open on Saturdays. "In seeking an adjournment we are not interfering with the present position," he continued. "Shopkeepers still can open and close when they like. An adjournment will not inconvenience either the shopkeepers or housewives." Mr Anderson submitted that in fixing closing hours the Court must have regard to public opinion. Miss Pilkington said they felt it was time a decision was reached. Mrs C. J. Roberts, a member of the New Women's Club, said its members were of the opinion that shops should remain open on Saturday mornings. Mr R. representing the employers, said it should be made clear that tho Court had no power to insist that shops remain open on Saturday mornings. The Grocers' Assistants His Honor said the right of shopkeepers to open on Saturday mornings still existed. An adjournment would only mean that the present state of affairs would continue. The Court could only compel shops to close within certain hours, having regard to the questions of fair competition in trading and in justice to the workers in them. It was true that the Court must have regard to the public and it was the duty of the Court to inform itself as to public opinion. Continuing, His Honor said he did not propose to dispose of the question of the right of women's organisations to be heard, although personally he held the view that they should be heard. As the parties to the dispute were at one in seeking an adjournment and their interests were paramount, the Court would grant an adjournment. On an application by Mr Croskery an adjournment was also granted of the hearing of the dispute concerning the Northern industrial district grocers' assistants. He said the circumstances were exactly similar to those of the preceding case.

PENALTY OF £IOO GAMING-HOUSE CASE (0.C.) HAMILTON,* Thursday "The Supreme Court has given a very clear indication that in these cases imprisonment should be imposed," said Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., in Hamilton today, when Christopher Howe Nicholson, aged 50, was charged with using premises in Victoria Arcade as a common gaming-house. Accused, in pleading guilty, said he had been in bad health and was only in a small way of business. Detective-Sergeant W. R. Murray said that accused had taken 11 doubles and £2O in other bets. He had no telephone. When informed that accused had been previously convicted for using the same premises as a gaming-liouse, the magistrate said it would be just as well if proceedings were taken against the owner. Warning accused that he could expect a prison term if he offended again Mr Patersou imposed a fine of £IOO LAND SALES APPEALS DECISIONS OF THE COURT Reserved judgment has been delivered by the Land Sales Court in respect of two appeals heard in Auckland last month. In one case the appeal was dismissed and in the other the basic value fixed by a committee was increased. In the case of the appeal by Robert Henry Bailey (Mr Melville) against the basic value ot £IO2O fixed by the Auckland Urban Land Sales Committee in respect of 2 acres 16 perches of vacant land in Great South Road, Penrose, which the appellant sought permission to sell for £IBOO to the Crum Brick, Tile and Pottery, Co., Ltd. (Mr Dawson) , the Court gave consent to the sale at £ISOO. A condition was that the saltbe completed within one month. Mi Vantier represented the Crown at tlm hearing. The decision ot the Auckland Urban committee in fixing the basic value of the land and building at 92 Albert Street at £3750 was upheld. The appellants were Malcolm Mcintosh Morrison, Eric Blampied and the Guardian Trust and Executors Co. of New Zealand, Ltd. (Mr Blampied), as trustees of the estate of the late A. R. Morrison, and they had sought consent to the sale of the property to British Electroplaters, Ltd. (Mr R. M. Grant) for £4OOO. The Crown was represented by Mr Barnett at the hearing. STUDENTS' DAY BRITISH MANIFESTO As the university colleges of New Zealand are closed for the vacation, it has not been possible to organise gatherings for the celebration of International Students' Day, which falls today, the anniversary of the closing of Prague University by the Germans in 1939. However, the New Zealand University Students' Association has circulated to the press a manifesto received from the National Union of Students of England and Wales, containing greetings to students throughout the free world. The manifesto rejoices at the liberation of many universities in Continental Europe and the return to their homes and studies of great numbers of students who were resisting German occupation. It refers specially to the students of China, whose struggle against Japanese aggression began before 1939 and still continues. The manifesto pledges tlm students of Britain to do all in their power to aid in the rebuilding and re-equipment of i shattered universities, to uphold civic integrity, free discussion and academic truth, and to see that all fascist ideology, false science, prejudiced history and racial discrimination are elim-1 colleges* J