BUTCHER WHO OPENED SHOP ON SATURDAYS

Chronicle (Levin), 15 February 1947, Page 6

BUTCHER WHO OPENED SHOP ON SATURDAYS

Press Association

Bv Telegraron—

■ WELLINGTON, Feb. 14. The quostiou of serviec to the public was raised in the Magistrate's Court, Wellington, today when a butcher plcaded guilty on three counts of keeping his shop open for business on Saturdav mornings. 11c was Lewis Douglas Cross, Cambridge Terrace. On the iirst count -he was convicted and dis.cliarged. On the second he was iined £3 and 10s costs and on tlie third he was lined £7 10s and 10s costs. Homcs in the Courtenay Flace-Cam-bridge Terrace area, said counsel for dcfendant, were not of the typo likely to contain rcfriegrators and their occupanls" would iind it difficult to keep Friday 's meat fresh for a Sunday meal. An inspector of awards, Mr. H. M. Ilopper, said that the butchers'. assistants' award which cauie into force on December 31, required all butchers' shops to close on Caturday mornings. Cross had opened his siiop on Saturday, January 4. As this was the lirst Caturday governed by the new award, dcfendant was merely warned but- he chose to defy the department and opened his lihop on the following three Satnrday mornings. In 'this way he gained an unfair advantage ovor his oompetitors, the very thing which tlie award aimed to eliminate. - Of 115 butchers' shops in and around Wellington, dcfendant 's was the only oue open on tliosc mornings and this had caused considerable feeling among organisations both of employers aud employees. Dcfendant, said counsei, was a young man who had bouglit the business last ycar, paying a considerable amount of goodwill and not knowing that tlie new award was coming into force. If he were forced to close on Saturday mornings, he would probably have to close his business altogether. He was making an application for exemption from the Caturday closihg provision and till his appeal was lieard he intended to keep oponing his shop on Saturday mornings. Cross 's Saturday. morning turnover was aboiit £17. 'That, divided equally among the fouf other butchers iu tlie vieinitv, would not be sufficient to cause mucli con: cern. . •