WIVES MUST PLAN FOR FIVE- DAY WEEK

Chronicle (Levin), 24 May 1946, Page 8

WIVES MUST PLAN FOR FIVEDAY WEEK

—Press Association 1 j

By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, May 23. Opposition to the closing of groeery .shops 011 Saturdav moriiings, was expressed by Miss C. M. Pilkington'on belialf of the New Zealand I-Iousewiv'es ' Association, when she appeared before the Arbitration Court dnring the hearing of the northern (except Gisborne) grocers' assistants and drivers' dispute. A eomplete settlement had been reached by the parties, the Auckland Master Grocers' Industrial Unioh of Employers and the Auckland Grocers' Assistants Union. Mr. Anderson appeared for the Auckland Cliain Groeery Stores Industrial Union of Employers which objeeted to eertain clauses in the proposed new award. A 40-hour live-day working week from Mondays to Fridays is included in. the settlement. Shorter shopping honrs were to be obtaiued only at the expense of the poclcets, health and well lieing of housewives, because tliey were the sectxon of the community that ultimately c'arried the burden, said Miss Pilkington. The housewives did approximately 100 per cent of the grocerv buying and they were often forced to buy more expensive goods to see them over long weekends. "We suggest that one of the first matters that should have attention is that. of attaining some degree of normality in the groeery trade based on tlie standard attained before the war wlien there was abundance of goods, live and a half days in which to buy, and a full and free delivery service," Miss Pilkington continued. "Todav housewives are still confronted with war staiulards, prices are ; high, and goods are scarce and in very irregular supply. ' ' klr. Barker, for the master grocers, staled in replv that although it might be correet that housewives did 100 per cent of grocerv buying, many ordered their supplies by telephone. If housewives planned tlieir buying they would get all they required in a live-day week. The court reserved decision.