SALE OF TOBACCO

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1928, Page 1

SALE OF TOBACCO

RESTRICTIONS OBJECT']® TO. WELLINGTON, Alnrch 21. The operation of the new law regulating the sale of tobacco and cigarettes bv shops other than tobacconists is responsible for the visit to AVollington from Auckland of Mr D. J. Kenny, President of the New Zealand Small Shopkeepers’ Association, and its general secretary (Air A. Lynne), who are making arrangements for the hearing of local applications for cxemp tion from the closing hour prevision 111 a statement they said: “Great hardship is being caused email shopkeepers throughout New Zealand by the provision in the Shops and Offices Act of last session which requires those shops which seTI cigarettes and tobacco to close at the sum* hours as are observed by tobaeonists’ sho'ps. Our membership consists of upwards of 3000 small shop-keepers, moet of whom employ no labour outside their own families. If the Act is enforced, it will mean that a great percentage will have to do 0 down as their takings will show a substantia tailing off if they are not permitted to sell cigarettes and tobacco. Side limes are just as essential to the confectioner, stationer or fruiterer as thev are to the tobacconist.

“I should be understood that, should any business bo adversely affected by tlies regulations, applications can b made to a Magistrate far relief. Tinclause governing the sale of cigarettes amd tobacco docs not apply to shops exempted from the observance <-f the closing hour provisions, either in awards or by requisiton. In ghinc Magistrates this power, the Government lias acted wisely. ‘To most confectioners and fruiterers, the sale of cigarettes aid t;bacco is a great asset. The average man will not be deprived of his smoke because the tobacconist is pleased to. close bis shop at an early hour. In this matter the public should be considered. If tobacconists, most of whom carry large stocks of fancy goods, fishing tackle, stationery, etc., are desirous that the new amendments should be rigidly enforced, then we trust that the Department of Labour will see, to it that the awards governing fancy goods land stationery businesses are applied to all tliose sin... not exclusively tobacconists. “Already in Auckland fifty-six exemptions have been granted to staLienors, that is partial exemption to 8 p.m., and 250 applications for total anil partial exemption fro.lll various busincssess have been filed and await hearing. “A rather unusual feature of the position in Auckland is that a number of tobacconists who signed the tobacconists’ requisition for 7 p.m. closing are now applying through the Small Shopkeepers’ Association for an extension of hours.”