AUCKLAND'S EXPERIENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12883, 17 June 1913, Page 7

AUCKLAND'S EXPERIENCE.

DIVERGENT OPINIONS

(By Telegraph.—i Special to Chronicle.) AUCKLAND, June 15.

. Divergent views • are expressed by s'u.pkeepers concerning the effect that the Saturday closing movement, which wan inaugurated yesterday, will havo upon their business. Some, as results of the first week's experience, express thoEiselves quite" satisfied with the change, but others, especially those in ti •small way of business.and those dealing it; iiorviiecessiti.es or."catch lines," givo quite different evidence. Queen Street is .not g» eatly affected by the change, as tho majority of business places there .-have, hitherto ...closed on Saturday at ono o'clock The thoroughfare that is principally concerned is Karangahape Road, vlm-h has built up a reputation as Auckland's great Saturday street. Many tradesmen state that last week, nith tho Wednesday afternoons and late Friday nights trade in lieu of Saturday aftetrooi: and Evening, was a disastrous ono and that if things do hot improve as tho public become accustomed to t.vy change the result will be very serious. Others state that their week's trade shewed co falling off and that they are quite satisfied -with the new order of things. Ali 'are agreed that the business dons lastJfriday night, which took, the place of Saturday night for the first time, was yeryj poor, but the weather was very inclement and thus a reliable comparison cannot be made. The crowd in Karanstahapa Road on Saturday was about half as large as it has hitherto been. This was remarked upon by those who are exempted .from closing on Saturday and who were open last night. Mar.y of these shopkeepers state that the change must seriously affect their Saturdays-takings, sinco thero will not bo nearly the.same number of people in tho street on..Saturday afternoons and ovoaings as in the past.