TAIHAPE RETAILERS MEET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 167, 18 July 1939, Page 10

TAIHAPE RETAILERS MEET

HALF-HOLIDAY ISSUE DISCUSSED

MAJORITY IN FAYOUR Ol THURSDAY (Ow n Correspondent. > TAIHAPE, July 16. 1 By a majority of nine votes the i Taihape retailers decided at a general ' meeting on Friday evening lo retain Thursday as the statutory half-holi-day, the xoting being ;;1 in Javour ui Thursday and 25 against. The voting was conducted by secret ballot instead of the usual show' of hands. Mr. F. White, president of the Taihape Retailers’ Association, occupies the chair. The chairman agreed that any business person affected by the half-holi-day should vote, but pointed out that each firm was entitled to one vote only. If there were two or more representatives of a tirm present at lhe meeting, only one of them could cast his vote. Mr. F. Daniel* moved t hat Thursday be retained as the statutory half-holi-day. The motion was seconded by Mr. 11. Dashwood. Mr. A. Gibb moved that an amendment that Saturday be the half-holi-day. The chairman: That is a direct negative and cannot be accepted. Mr. T. Auld: The only change that we can make according to law is Lo observe Saturday as a half-holida} so it is a two-way issue. I have the signatures of 40 shopkeepers who arc against a Saturday half day. Mr. R. L. Lawson: 1 have another list containing the signatures of 47 shopkeepers who are in favour ol Saturday. Mr. Needham: These lists don’t, carry any weight as a lot have signeu both lists. There are not 87 retailers in Taihape. Mr. Auld: Mr. Law'son’s list went round first and some people signed in a hurry. Mr. Lawson: My list was taker, round before the executive meeting, whereas Mr. Auld's list was takeu round since the executive meeting. The object of my list was to find out what the shopkeepers thought about the matter. 1 did not. try to talk anyone round. The chairman pointed out that a change could be made only if the | meeting was unanimous. Mr. Gibb: The inference that lhe bulk of the business is done on Saturday is beside the point as Saturday is the late night. Ii a change is made the amount, of business will be transacted on the late night. Mr. L. Howard: If Saturday is detrimental why do other towns observe it. There are only about six or seven towns in New Zealand that don't observe Saturday. Mr. F. McSweeney: We draw business from up and down the line on Saturday, and if we were closed that business would go Lo a town that wa* not closed on Saturday. Mr. Needham: Marton have switched over to Saturday again after trying other days. In Palmerston North one man who was opposed to Saturday told me that he would not change for anything. Mr. Naylor': One of the largest I drapery turns in Hamilton who was very much opposed lo Saturday hall- I holiday is now quite pleased with the' change. The chairman: Hamilton is th., centre of a dairying district. Mr. Auld: I don’t, see why we should be concerned with the experience oi other towns. 1 have letters from business people in Hastings. Rotorua, and other towns stating that, they would like to go back to the mid-week holiday. Before we change we want some good business reason for out action and I can see no good reason from a business point of view why we should alter the hall-holiday. Mr. Martin: If Friday was the late night more people would come into town on that (lay. Mr. Howard: From the point of view of spurt a Saturday half-holiday would be beneficial and if there is more sport there would be more business. There would be more footballers, for instance, and they would want gear. Sport brings a lot of money lo lhe town and a Saturday half-holiday would mean more equipment. If a girl was going away for the week-end she would probably buy a new dres*. There would be more travelling ano the retailer would benefit. Mr. W. White: In some business it does not. matter whether the retailers observe Saturday or sonic other day as the half-holiday. Some do 90 per cent, of their business over the counter; others depend on the order system and a canvassing, while a certain class of business depends on the "temptation" trade by keeping open when there is the greatest crowd in town and so templing people to buy. Taihape should consider the farming community and there was no doubt that the farmers made a habit oi coming to town on a Saturday, and they were tempted to spend. If the shops were shut they might order by catalogue from a firm outside Taihape. The chairman: Once you change to Saturday you cannot make another change. Mr. Needham: What about. Marton? The chairman: There were special circumstances in Marton’s case. Mr. Lawson: 1 have letters from the Defence Department favouring Saturday as lhe half-holiday for puiposeg of military training. There are only 15 shop assistants in Taihape who have joined the territorials, and I think that every shop keeper should do his best to help the voluntary system. Mr. F. Daniels; Saturday haif-day cannot be enforced upon lhe minority by the majority. There must be unanimity on the subject before a change can bo made as has already been pointed out. Mr. R. Kiely: What benefits are lo be gained by a Saturday half-day? Mr. Needham: Saturday’s business would be done on Friday and Saturday morning if a change was made, which would ;i orc than compensate us for closing on Saturday afternoon. Mr. Patrick: I will go with the majority, but Saturday closing would be no good in my line. Mr. Martin: The workers can get off any day. The chairman was about to put the motion that Thursday be retained as the half-holiday and asked for a show of hands when a retailer requested a secret ballot, and moved a motion to that effect. The motion was carried and the secret ballot was held, Utk result being 34 in favour of and 25 against, leaving a