Late Shopping And Food Sales

Press, Volume C, Issue 29498, 27 April 1961, Page 2

Late Shopping And Food Sales

Delegates to the annual meeting of the Canterbury Federation of Country Women’s Institutes yesterday asked for alternate late shopping nights in major Christchurch suburbs and for an amendment to the law which would allow shops, especially those near hospitals, to sell perishable foodstuffs on Sundays. Two remits dealing with these subjects are being considered by the federation executive which will decide on future action.

“Alternate late-night shopping hours in some of the major suburbs would mean easier shopping for everyone,” said one delegate. “Shop assistants can only shop in their lunch-hours at present and office and factory workers who work long hours, have only Friday nights free to do all their shopping for the week. Different hours for shopping would mean a greater service to these people.” A South Brighton member said that shopping in that area on Saturdays was nearly as rushed and they were as crowded as city stores on Friday nights. The service had proved Invaluable in those districts but was not nearly sufficient. When a delegate protested that it would mean lengthening the present 40-hour week for shop assistants she was corrected by the next speaker who said that shops would close at some other time to compensate.

Perishable Foods The present law preventing the sale of perishable foodstuffs such as fruit and vegetables, on Sundays, was criticised by delegates. Commodities such as tea and tinned fruits could be stored by any housewife for an indefinite period, they said. But many fruits deteriorated in hot weather. Unexpected calls to hos pitals posed problems also. Delegates felt that shops near hospitals that were open on Sundays should be allowed to sell fruits that could be taken as gifts for patients.

Another side to the question was mentioned by a delegate who said that fruit of any variety could be bought on Sundays in outlying districts. Places that offered fruit for sale, with or without vegetables, frequently sold such fruits as bananas and oranges that had not been grown on the premises.

One delegate said she would be happy to see more perishable goods on sale In preference to tinned and packaged foods. As a rule housewives did not use a large amount of tinned goods, even at weekends.

The remit had been prepared by the Sheffield C.W.1., and the remit dealing with alternate shopping nights was presented by the South Brighton C.W.I.

The retiring federation president (Mrs C. D. Newton) presided.