STRATFORD SHOPPING HOURS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 222, 31 August 1936, Page 5

STRATFORD SHOPPING HOURS

NEW LEGISLATION. OPERATES TO-MORROW Revised Hours for Many Retailers. u r o'i<( qoria dart B >' ' hi s 'tol 889rtian ■ ■ r ! 44.HOUR WEEK. Stratford businessmen are prepared for the new legislation af- ' feeting' shops and offices which comes into opera-ion to-morrow. Drapers, clothiers, boot import- '•*"' ens; Which formerly opened at about 8.30 will now open at 8.50 each morning. Butchers have revised their hours and under the new legislation they will be closed all day on Thursday. One' retailer interviewed by a representative of The Post this morning said that two factors which will go a long- way in nVaking the new hours satisfactory'were, first, for the customer to have an approximate idea of his wants when he entered the shop, and secondly, to leave Saturday afternoon for farming people to do their shopping. "That does •."net mpan/';.continued . the retailer, "that our staffs will not continue to give every assistance." V' : in Shifts. This retailer has devised a method of working his staff in shifts. A certain number will commence r-v earlier than the others and this ■batch will cease work for the day at 5.15 p.m. Increased wages had made a considerable difference to retailers, he continued, and under the new scale . ol wages.it was extremely unprofitable to- employ apprentice assistants. The .resift is that the saraa amount of work has'to be completed in a shorter time with a reduced staff.

Relative Value. In computing the revised hours for shops, due consideration had to be given to the relative value of hours. It was necessary, for drapers and clothiers to remain open until 5.30, as a good portion of business affecting workers is done during that period. Boot stores ars , observing similar hours. Hardware merchants, grocers, cycle dealers ,and ; general merchants; will ?11 open at 8.30 each morning and on Saturdays will remain open until 9 p.m., closing for the half day on Thursday at 12 noon. On all other days the closing time will be 5 p.m. A chart of the revised hours in which Stratford shops are open is, week days being Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays:— Butchers. —Week-days, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays, closed; Saturdays, 7.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. Drapers, clothiers, boot importers; furnishers. —Week-days, 8.50 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.; Thursdays, 8.50 a.m. to noon; Saturdays, 8.50 a.m. to 9 p.m. Hardware merchants. —Week-days, 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays, 8.30 to noon; Saturdays, 8.30 to 9 p.m. Cycle dealers, grocers and general merchants. —Week-days 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays, 8.30 to noon; Saturdays, 8.30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

I EXPENSIVE MOTORING. i NEW LEGISLATION. 'Further Increases In Costs 3 ilsjlioiod IriftjbijU'U I [,£bniw x « I • i MECHANICAL FITNESS TEST. The introduction of the shorten : working week and restoration of j wages to the 1931 level for garag& workers, said Mr G. A. Carter I 'to The Post to-day, will mean increased expense for the average j motorist, ; Other legislation contemplated by | the Government is likely to increase further the cost of running a car. In the transport control regulations for 1936 there, is provision for the appointment of vehicle examiners, who will have the right at any time to test cars for mechanical fitness and effectiveness of brakes and lights. When such a test is made the motorist will be required to pay a fee ofi five shillings. Exemption is only pos-> sible if the driver is able to provide a warrant of fitness issued by an approved garage not more than six months previously. No garage will j he willing to issue such a certificate without first making a thorough examination of the car and five shillings is the minimum fee likely to be charged for such service.