SHOPKEEPERS’ WISHES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 115, 17 May 1930, Page 10

SHOPKEEPERS’ WISHES

I RESTRICTIONS OF THE LAW EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMITTEE [ Per Prefls Association. ] CHRISTCHURCH, M>y 16. Appearing before the committee which is hearing evidence on the Shops and Offices Act, the Christchurch Hairdressers and Tobacconists Association asked that automatic vending machines be classed as shops and brought under the closing provisions. The Association desired to retain the power of fixing closing hours by a re-, quisition of the majority in any trade, and the right of each tobacconist to select his half holiday himself. Where the closing hours were fixed in any trade, the Association considered that all shops selling goods in that trade should be closed at the prescribed hours.

The Association asked that the purchaser, as well as the seller, should be liable to a fine where a sale was made after the prescribed hours.

The Master Bakers’ Union asked that uniform closing hours be forced for each trade and no alteration of these hours be allowed, either by requisition or by the Court of Arbitration.

Opposition to exemption from uniform closing hours was expressed by the Seedsmen’s Association. They asked that their hours be the same as for other trades. They had nv objection to fruiterers selling seeds and plants so long as they were not sold after seedsmen’s closing hours. The florists asked that trading hours be fixed by legislation and that fruiterers be not allowed to sell flowers after florists’ closing hours.