'AS DEAD AS JULIUS CAESAR'

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 227, 18 October 1940, Page 4

'AS DEAD AS JULIUS CAESAR'

ELSEWHERE in to-day's issue readers will learn with interest that the above quotation was madeby one of our city fathers with reference to the existence or otherwise of a local Businessmen's Association. It is merely an echo of what the BEACON has been repealing for the past eighteen months in. order to try and resuscitate the slowly evaporating Cham ber of Commerce. The remark in question was more an expression of surprise that the businessmen of this town had not done something to counteract the powers authorised under the proposed 'Shops and Offices Amendment Act' which the Government has recently put forward as a total means of enforcing the 40-hour week. So muah has been said in the press' in connection with this subject that it is almost a reflection on Whakatane that it is about the last borough to wake up and realise the position. Had there been an active Chamber of Commerce the matter would have been dealt with months ago and the town would; have been in line with other wide-awake centres which have long since defined their attitude. Briefly the passing l of the Act would empower the of the Arbitration Court to introduce regulations controlling the application of the 40hour week, including hours on Saturday morning ajid late shopping night.. The suggestion is one, which when given careful thought_could easily have disastrous effects upon the business routine of the country and it is felt by 90 per cent of the people that with so many other strains upon the country at the present time the occasion is far from opportune to upset the hardened linesi upon which we feel that the people of Whakatane are just as deeply interested as those in other centres, and in the absence of a more directly representing body, the council is to be thanked for hand-.. ling the matter on their behalf.