Wellington Butchers And Friday Closing

Chronicle (Levin), 21 January 1948, Page 4

Wellington Butchers And Friday Closing

WELLINGTON, Jan. 20. Following the announeement by the Wellington master butchers that thev would not open their shops on Friday, the day after Anniversary Day, and *a subsequent statement by a representative of- the abattoir "workers that tliey had been prepafed to work on the Thursday* and were not responsible for the closing of the shops from Wednesday night to Monday morning, there has been considerable controversy in the eolumnb of Wellington newspapers over the action taken by the butchers. Today it was reported that severai butchers intefld opening their shops on Friday. One Lower Hutt bute her said to'day: "I think the whole thing is wrong. We have obligations" to the public. just as the Post and Teiegraph Department and other institutions have. I feel very strongly on this and though I will not lur able to employ -any hands I sliall do my best to ' keep things going. j' Butchers who open on. Friday will be liable to prosecution. The Labour Department confirmed today that theclause under which any day eaii be declared a eompulsory holiday on agreem6nt between employers and employees, exists • in the butchers'" assistants' awa'rd* It is an- unusual clause oelieved to be the only one of its kina. The parties concerned having agreed, the department is now empowered to prosecute any butchers opening, whether labour is employed or not.