SHOPS’ CLOSING HOUR

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 4 June 1923, Page 8

SHOPS’ CLOSING HOUR

ON WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY. A meeting of business people was called for Saturday night to discuss the hour of closing on Saturdays. Mr H. Marriott (president of the Employers’ Association) presided, and there were 22 present. Mr Marriott expressed regret that the meeting was by no means representative. He explained that the jewellers had unanimously decided not to close before 1 p.m., and said that quite a number of other employers desired also to close at that hour. A letter was received from the Federation of Labour, Wellington, expressing ■ the opinion that the business houses ■ should not close before 1 p.m., especially in view of the fact that one of the , arguments of those who favoured the 1 Saturday half-holiday was that* the business people would have a good morning’s business right up till 1 I o’clock. | A letter was also received from the South Canterbury Executive of the Farmers’ Union stating that the farming community desired to have the . shops open till 1 p.m. on Saturdays. 1 Tho Chairman said that nothing could be done by that meeting in view I of tho fact that not half the business I people were represented, but he invited I those present to indicate their minds by a show of hands. The result was that twelve voted for half-past 12 closing and ten against. ! The Chairman said that a bare majo-: 1 rity had no right to decide such anj ; important question, and it would ho j necessary to endeavour to get unaniL mity. on the matter- j