SHOPKEEPERS IN ARMS
AN ASSOCIATION'FORMED. There was a representative attendance of Wellington shopkeepers at a meeting held yesterday morning in the offices of Messrs. H. i*. AJlon and Son, the object being-to discuss the advisability of re-forming the New Zealand Shopkeepers' Association,' and in order to discuss proposed amendments to the Shops and Offices Act,, 1908, and amendments thereto." The amendments are — (1) That all shops close on ordinary nights at 5.30 p.m. ; (2) at 8 p.m. on tho lato night; and l (3) at noon on Saturday. It is further proposed that assistants shall, not forfeit .their halfholiday when,. a, ,p<ublic, .holiday occurs during .tho .iyeek. Mr. Hi Seaton,who occupied the chair, temporarily pointed out what'a ! serious handicapit would be for' shopkeepers, if these extravagant' proposals i were given effect to in law. It had been stated that 5.30 p.m. closing was voluntarily carried into effect in Auckland two years ago, which, he understood, was entirely, orroneous. ■ Mr. A. Moore, president of the Wednesday Half-holiday Defence League, who was .a visitor to Wellington, was •present, and informed the meeting, that the statement, regarding the 5.30 p.m. .closing was entirely : erroneous;-in fact", •it .was only/\bbserved .by i oh'&'''firm";rin Auckland (ICarangahape Road). '_ That firm had stated that if others did not follow suit they "too would discontinue closing at 5.30 p.m. ' Mr. Moore had been in business in Karangahape Road for 32 years, and the Saturday halfholiday had hit his business very hard. It was a ,common thing to 'see, wives meeting tlieir husbands at tramwnv stopping-places to receive money with which'to do their shopping. '• .Some of those present affirmed that tho shop assistants had little to complain of at present,, being thoroughly ivellf protected 'aiid adequately remunerated' by the conditions that obtained. •It was' resolved that the, New Zealand Shopkeepers', Association ,be' formed. .Mr. A. Georgo was elected president: Mr. H. Seaton, vice-president; and all present were formed iiito an executive committee, and. divided themselves into sub-committees; to canvas's tliejpityfor members, ' Mr. H. I". Allen was appointed secretary and treasurer. ■ . It-was decided that a .letter protesting against the. drastic amendments to the Shops and Offices Act (as; outlined above) bo forwarded to .the Minister of Labour (the Right Hon- W. F. Massey). It was decided that .the association s policy should include freedom of selec.tion of the day in the week that the half-holiday be observed upon. Mr. A. Moore stated that they had-600 signa-. tures of active' shopkeepers in Auckland opposed to the compulsory;, Saturday half-holiday. . • \ ■ . It was notified to the meeting that Mr. Moore was proceeding south for the purpose of forming branch associations in the various cities and towns lie intended to viait.
. The date of the next meeting was fixed for July 21.
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Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2519, 14 July 1915, Page 11
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457SHOPKEEPERS IN ARMS Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2519, 14 July 1915, Page 11
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