SHOP LIGHTING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 11, 14 August 1946, Page 5

SHOP LIGHTING

QUESTION OF WINDOW DISPLAYS RESPONSIBILITY ON SHOPKEEPERS A question raised by Cr R. Morpeth at the Borough Council meeting last Monday evening, with regard to improving the window lighting of shops on the Strand, gave rise to some interesting discussion. It was finally decided to refer the matter to the Retailers’ Association for mutual action amongst all members.

Cr Morpeth declared that on shopping nights the whole appearance of the Strand was drab and from what he could gather Whakatane was the only town in New Zealand where shop windows had a 100 per cent, black-out. There should at least be a certain amount of lighting and to his mind the Council should have formulated some policy to let shopkeepers know where they stood. Other Councillors commented that Whakatane appeared to be unduly penalised in this respect and considered that something should be done to alleviate the present position.

The Mayor; I think this town has not been so badly off when compared with others where complete shut-downs have been instituted daily. Nothing like that has happened here yet. The engineer informed the meeting that everything possible had been done to get the shopkeepers to co-operate in this respect but a few definitely would not fall into line. There was no call for complaint whatever as most of the shop interiors were well over-lighted as far as the regulations were concerned. The lamps were not taken from the shop windows for a joke. They were removed to meet the emergency position. Whakatane residents had not suffered any hardships whatever up to the present. In many towns there was a complete shutdown for two and three hours daily. Everything was cut off. All that had been done in Whakatane. was to cut off power during the early hours when it was not needed. He asked what the businessmen expected to be done with so many new consumers being connected. The rehabilitated soldiers needed power in their hom,es and this was one may of making it available. Cr Morpeth agreed with what the Engineer had said but said that all he was interested in was giving a little light to the windows which were at present in darkness. Mr Lysaght: We have no power to go into the shops and order them to show less light inside. It is a matter for the shopkeepers themselves to arrange. Cr Morpeth agreed that the matter could be finalised by the Association which would be meeting in the near future.