WELLINGTON GROCERS WILL OPEN ON MONDAY.

Chronicle (Levin), 22 April 1948, Page 2

WELLINGTON GROCERS WILL OPEN ON MONDAY.

WELLINGTON, Apni 2 b - Wellington grocers will open on Moit-. day. This developjneji.fc is. announeed in an ofticial stat'ement issued ,bv Ihe oljitigtoA Master. Grocers ' Association lo-nighf. It rea'd's.-." A proposition was put to Mr. A. W. Grpskery, seeretarv o f Ihe Shop Assistants ' Ujiion, this morn. ing that he should agree' 16 grocers ro- ! maining open on- Monday and" .giviiig tlie staffa an ext'ra daLy on ahnual leave, To this Mr. Croskery "replxed that he had no objeclion and arraiigernents were aecordrngly proeeeded Wilh ior ' the opeuing .of:shops. I.ater in tne day, however, Mr. (jroskery "withdrew his approval. ■ '

Ihe Association, and.it is felt tne vast majority of those who are eruployed in grocers' shops. arer fully in aecord with tJie sentiinents eXpressco by Mr. (J, O. Bell, Doniinion ' president of 'the N.Z.lt.S.A. and is somewhat at a loss to undcrstaud wljy Mr. Croskery has. now changed his minu and witJidraw'n his support for- the alteriiativo suggestion. The . As.sooiation has^ not even asked the l'hnployees' l nion to waive ..Ihe provisions oi' the award, but has asked if to agree lo an alternativc day, %;grhed. upon betwecn employers and ernployees. lo be tahen in lieu of the MondayC.VA rj' agrecrnent to the alternati ve.. by t-he ,l'nip{oveos ' T nion is iieccssarv lf • hmptoyers wiio open their shops 6fi Monday are t.o avoid prosecntion. The Association still hopes that Ihe union will signify ils agrecincnt. "It has always been the policv ot Ihe Association to ensure the strief ooservance of the law by its me'jubers but if the Employecs ' Cnion r'cfuses to amend its piesent attitude, it is felt that a dcparture from the usual policv would be warranted. In deference to tlie feelings ot e\ er\ decont thiuking person throughi'ut New Zealand, aud in order to avoiu tlie possibiJit v of hurtiag ihe feelings of those bereaved, the executive of tne AiSBociation nnHriiinously ce.cuiniiijen'(j3 lo men^bers tliat tliey open their shops. on Monday as usual and gi\'e their eniployees one extru day added to their auuuaJ Ioa\'e-in lieu thcreof. " > * II Ihe Depart uient of LaljoiiCj -iii exercise of its duties, was compeJled to prosecute those grocefs who open on I Monday, the Association .felt that nioniliers have the nioral .-"support of tlie majority of people.^;!^ Wellington^ buWheTh'" shops Will -i»e closed-. oii 'Mohday in accotdance witii the law, said Mr..,-W'. J. • MouutjOv, secretary of the Wellington" Master B^tcl^crs, Association last night.