Dunedin Store Closes

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31111, 14 July 1966, Page 13

Dunedin Store Closes

(N.Z. Pres* Association) DUNEDIN, July 13. One of the few remaining privately-owned large departmental stores in New Zealand, the D.SA. closed its doors on Monday night The assets of the Drapery Supply Association have been taken over in a share transfer by H. and J. Smith, Ltd., Invercargill. The D.S.A. was founded in 1890 by Mr James Dick, who

took into partnership Mr Hunter McKechnie. The present chairman of directors is Mr J. G. Dick, and the directors are Messrs R. G. Dick, R. D. Gilchrist, R. D. McKechnie, and A. C. McKechnie. In 1894, a branch shop was opened in South Dunedin and this remained until the early 1950’5. A branch in Cuba street, Wellington, however, had a much shorter life. It was opened in 1950 and closed four years later because of difficulties in supervision.

The present staff numbers about 120, and these have all been promised jobs in Dunedin, Invercargill, or Gore by H. and J. Smith, Ltd., in conjunction with Arthur Barnett, Ltd., another Dunedin departmental store.

The store will remain open tomorrow only for customers who wish to keep appointments in the hairdressing and beauty salon, and for the payment of accounts. The sales staff will be engaged in stocktaking.