OLD-TIME SHOPKEEPING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17439, 10 April 1931, Page 11

OLD-TIME SHOPKEEPING

SIR G. FOWLD’S MEMORIES LONG HOURS OBSERVED By-gone ways in the retail Dade of Auckland wore recalled by Sir George Fowlds at a luncheon in his honor. Sir George remarked that lie had seen many changes in the conduct of Queen street businesses since he began at 30s a week as an employee of Mr. J. W. Shackleford, who was unfortunately not present, at the gathering. In those days shops remained open until 9 p.m. on ordinary day's and until 11.39 or midnight: on Saturdays. He felt happ.v in recalling that he had taken an active part in all movements for shortening hours of labor and had helped to secure Die original Wednesday half-holiday. He believed that lie had a share in forming the first drapers’ association, and he had certainly' helped to found the first master tailors’ association.

One effect of shortening the hours of shops had been to prevent the working man from doing much shopping himself, and now his wife made most, of the purchases. Naturally, the wife preferred to go to the large department, stores where she could buy at sales. (Laughter.) The one-man residential suburban shop had also cut into the businesses of the specialised establishments in Queen street. These factors, and that of rent, very largely explained why lie and his son, Mr. G. M. Gowlds, were severing their connection with the business they had conducted so long.—Herald.