BARBERS’ HOURS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23805, 11 May 1939, Page 18

BARBERS’ HOURS

REDUCTION TO BE MADE ACTION IN WELLINGTON SOCIAL LIFE HAMPERED (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 10. Tired of working morning and evening six days of the week, hairdressers and tobacconists in Wellington and the suburbs have determined to keep shorter business hours. Notices posted L barbers’ shops throughout the city this week announce that earlier dosing hours are to be observed in future. It is likely too that tobacconists with hairdressing businesses will shortly adopt similar hours. It appears that in the past long hours have been kept, and the barber’s shop has been his virtual home, with the result that he has seen more of his customers than of his family. An official of the Wellington Hairdressers’ Association said to-day that, being exempt from the terms of the Shops and Offices Act, hairdressers had previously observed long hours, amounting to almost B 0 a week. The saloons opened at 7 in the morning and closed at 8 at night, sometimes six days a week. Barbers had no opportunities for social enjoyment or home life, and they rarely saw their wives and children from one week-end to the next, except for a few minutes at night and in the morning. There had, however, for a long time been a growing demand among tobacconists and barbers for shorter hours. Eighty per cent, of those engaged in the trade wanted better conditions, and the change could not be held back any longer, although there was a minority which was opposed to it.