COLD DINNER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26027, 15 December 1945, Page 6

COLD DINNER

CHRISTMAS PROSPECT BUTCHERS’ HOLIDAYS UNION RESOLVES DOUBTS The problems of the already rather harassed housewife are becoming more complicated. The latest concern that has arisen for her is to decide how the joint of beef or loin of lamb which she purchases on Friday next may be kept fresh until the following Tuesday —Christmas Day. Since many people will consider that such a feat of housekeeping is impossible at this time of the year, there is a likelihood that the prospect of sitting down to a “festive board’ - furnished with cold viands may have to be faced by the people of Dunedin with such equanimity as they can muster. This position has arisen from the fact that the uncertainty concerning the closing of the retail butchers’ shops over the Christmas and New Year periods was resolved last night by the members of the Dunedin and Suburban Butchers’ Union. At a largely-attended meeting the union decided to reaffirm its previous decision not to work from 9 p.m. on Friday until the morning of December 27, and to observe a further holiday period from December 29 to January 3. The union members also considered the proposal put forward by a member of the master butchers that shops should be open on Saturday next, but this suggestion received no support. Now that the union is adhering to the previous arrangement to have five days’ holiday at Christmas and four days at New Year, and that several leading firms have agreed to close during this time irrespective of the decision of the Master Butchers’ Association on the matter, it seems fairly clear that all shops will now be closed over the longer period.