TRADING AFTER HOURS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23161, 10 April 1937, Page 22

TRADING AFTER HOURS

ro THE EDITOR Sir, —Kindly permit me space to air a grievance. Recently an inspector from the Department of Labour has been making raids on small shops in the city and suburbs in respect of the after-hour selling of cigarettes, the method employed being to buy a packet of a well-known brand of cigarettes, and tell the proprietor that he or she was trading after hours, and that they would hear more about it from the department. It seems to me the Government have got themselves to blame entirely for this after-hour trading by allowing anyone to start a shop anywhere. For instance, a person builds a shop and dwelling, and perhaps sinks £IOOO or £ISOO in capital in it in a locality where that class of business appears to be a necessity, and commences business as a fruiterer and confectioner. Then just when the business is commencing to flourish someone else sets up next door or right opposite in the same class of business. As we are all aware that what will keep one well, will keep two badly, hence they both resort to stocking other lines such as groceries and tobacco. Now, I understand in England it is necessary to secure a permit to commence in business from the council. They go fully into the number of businesses of the proposed class in that locality, and if they do not consider it a necessity permission is not granted. I do think it is time our Labour Government did something in the way of legislation in that direction. In conclusion, I might add I think they have about as much chance of stopping the Molyneux River as stopping after-hour trading under present conditions. —I am, etc.. One of the Persecuted.