SHOPPING HOURS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24422, 7 October 1940, Page 11

SHOPPING HOURS

TO THE EDITOR

Sir, —I read the article on shopping hours in this morning's Daily Times with great interest. I am sorry to have to disagree with your statement that the present arrangement is working smoothly and satisfactorily. It may be working smoothly, but it is not working satisfactorily. Its smooth working may be entirely due to the fact that employees do not feel it advisable to fuss even about an unfair condition when such fussing may endanger their iobs. Please understand that shop employees. most of them, have to work on Friday evening as well as on Saturday morning. Personally. I think that shops should remain open on Saturday morning and close on Friday evening. This would give shop assistants a fairer deal than they at present receive. It certainly is not satisfactory for shop assistants to know that they work both Saturday morning and Friday evening just for the convenience of the public, a large proportion of which has both Saturday morning and Friday evening free. I think. Sir. you can scarcely have realised how large a proportion of the public shop assistants are. or how trying their job of being on their feet all day is. About 18 months ago I wrote a letter advoeating closing on Friday night, and am now glad that the Government is doing something which may result in fairer treatment to that part of the public known as shop assistants —salesmen saleswomen, etc. Theirs is a confined and trying life, and as a definite part of the public they should be considered or the 40-hour week abandoned. —I am, etc., Employee. Dunedin, October 5.