GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1930, Page 11

GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS

HAIRDRESSERS PROTEST. : Saloon at Railway station. : •..••'"{.•■.A- / ■ ■ A combined deputation representing the employers and workers in the hairdressing business in Auckland waited on the Minister of Railways, the Hon. W. A. Veitch, on Saturday, when a complaint was made that ■ the hairdressing ‘ saloon at th© new Auckland railway station would be a serious competitor with the city'saloons by .reason of. its exemption from the strict- regulations as to hours under.which tlie private establishments operate. The Minister ' yvas: sympathetic and promised that every effort would-be made to see that the station saloon catered .only for train, travellers.

On-behalf -of the hairdressers it was mentioned that the cut-rate shops selling .tobaccos, had so reduced the ■business done in the tobacconists’ shops that they were now relying largely, on 1 the’returns from the hairdressing side of the business. ■ 1 It ' was .stated "that while the' competition to be expected' from the station might be small it had to be remembered that the trade was in a precarious position, and many of. those engagedin it were on the verge of closing up. ' The main grievance was that the station saloon was to open at 6.45 a.m. and would not close, until 8 p.m,, whereas those in private. business could not employ men before 8 a.m. nor after 6 p.m. on an ordinary working day. Men could not be worked after 1 p.m. on Saturdays and they could not be open on Sundays. Their fear was that ■ some of .their business would go to. the station during the hours when the city saloons were- closed; //■'■,'. In reply the Minister said an entirely new position had arisen .in Auckland. The new station had been - laid out and the organisation provided before, he took over the'portfolio of railways, and if was very difficult for-him to say what should be done in the circumstances. They had a large establishment a long way from th£ centre of the city and had provided services for the benefit of the users of the railway and at the moment he could not see his way to promise that the service would be discontinued. '

-While expressing sympathy with the deputation he could-say that as a matter of Government policy there was no • intention of entering into competition .with private enterprise. ' He was of the opinion that they should give the service a trial to see how it worked. Later the department might be able to say whether private enterprise should be invited to take over the business. The, Minister added that there was an enormous load of capital in the new station and he had to see that nothing was done that would reduce the anticipated revenue. It was customary in the department to pay men reasonable wad.es and work them reasonable hours, and he would see that the policy was adhered .to in connection with the several services instituted at the new station. Mr. Veitoh further promised to give instructions that the practice of members of the public patronising the saloon at the station when city establishments were closed should be discouraged. Their intention was that the service should be for the users of trains only.