TE AWAMUTU SHOPS WILL REMAIN OPEN ON LOCAL RACE DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18338, 15 December 1927, Page 8

TE AWAMUTU SHOPS WILL REMAIN OPEN ON LOCAL RACE DAY.

MINORITY FAILS TO AGREE TO DECISION REACHED BY BALLOT. (Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, December 14. The chief topic of discussion at Te Awamutu is the decision of a number of shopkeepers to remain open on Saturday next on the occasion of the Waipa Racing Club’s meeting. A ballot of retailers was taken on the matter and it was decided by a majority of 24 to 13 to close, but despite this, the minority are remaining open. The matter was discussed at a meeting of the Racing Club, when the following resolution was carried:—“That the committee appreciates the action of those shopkeepers who are closing their premises on race day in answer to a request of the club, and emphatically protests against the action of those shopkeepers who, after agreeing to submit the matter to the vote and in defiance of the ballot recently held, refuse to abide by the decision arrived at.” The dissenting shopkeepers contend that a good deal -of Christmas trade would be lost by closing. Mr M. H. Tims said that many people failed to realise what it meant to the town to have a successful racing club. The large number of horses trained there was an asset to the town, as they provided employment for large staffs in the stables.