SHOPPING WEEK

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 558, 15 June 1933, Page 6

SHOPPING WEEK

Our Own Correspondent.)

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOLD SPECIAL DISCUSSION ON PROJECT. COMMITTEE APPOINTED.

(From

A sp'ecial meeting of the Opotiki Chamber of Commerce was held on Tuesday evening, Mr. J. R. Sinclair being in the cbair. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. J. White, M. Kidd, S. Chatfield, G. Dawson and S. Foster. The chairman said that the meeting had beeit called to discuss a shopping week for Opotiki and he asked all present to give their views on the matter which was open to free discussion. Mr. Paviour-Smith' proposed holding a shopping month in order to stimulate trade in Opotiki. His idea was to circularise every person in Opotiki and surrounding distriicts; possibly the neighbouring towns, suggesting that they shop in Opotiki during the month. The last week could be made into a carnival week. He then went on to say that h'e hoped the chamber would make some money out of the scheme, which could be used for publicity and advertising Opotiki. Mr. Palmer said that it had been his privilege to be in three different towns during their shopping Weeks. He contended that a month was too long as the people had spent'all their money before then and were anxious to get home. . He agreed with Mr. Smith that Opotiki was not well enough advertised. ' Mr. H. Jessop also considered that a month was too long. A week or a fortnight was long enough. There would be sufficient time to work up a carnival. Mr. A. E. Payne said that -a shopping week had been included in the celebrating of the School Diamond Jubilee. He had sent away for a book which could furnish all details for the running of a shopping week and would •gladly lend it to the chamber if it would be of any assistance. He hoped that this function. would not interfere with' the school one dn October. Next Month Suggested Mr. Sinclair suggested that a combined effort be made to assist the school. He also hoped that this would not spoil the school's chances of success, but he thought Opotiki could

stand two. It had been suggested to hold the shopping week in July. Mr. F. Bridger thought the idea was to ask the people to shop in Opotiki during July and not necessarily for any special week. A carnival could be included in the scheme. Mr. Stevenson stated that he had had a lot to do in connection with the free gift scheme which had been a great success -always. He would do all he could to assist. Mr. Smith' said that perhaps he had not explained himself properly, but his idea of >a month was to enable the Waimana people to have a chance of coming to Opotiki. He suggested three weeks' shopping, one week of carnival. Mr. Stevenson, speaking once more, I contended that it would be impossible for Opotiki to run a month. One week only tand a monster carnival on the Saturday afternoon (half-day) would be sufficient. Mr. Jessop said he would have much pleasure .in seconding Mr. Smith's proposal, providing Mr. Smiith put two weeks into the motion. Mr. Smith agreed to do so. Mr. Auld moved an amendment that the duration be left to a committee l .

of those who had had experience in such schemes. Th'e amendment was lost. Mr. Palmer maintained that before encouraging people, to shop in Opo_tiki, keen prices must be displayed. Mr. Jessop said that the shopping week was not dntended "to make the shopkeepers cut the prices. They were keen enough already. It was merely to bring the people to buy in Opotiki, to show them that the prices for the year were the same as they Were for that fortnight. It would keep the money in Opotiki. Mr. T. H. Pearson declared that a week of pushing the goods before the people was enough. He was in favour with th'e idea. The Mayor (Mr. G..S. Moody) said that it was a matter for business men. Although he had been in towns where there had been shopping weeks, h'e had not had any experience with them. - Mr. E. N. Boyce advised that from the experience he had had, the lighting was the main feature. Returning to the motion which was proposed by Mr. Paviour-Smith and seconded by Mr. Jessop, it was p*ut- to the meeting and carried. It was proposed by Mr. Arrowsmith, seconded by Mr. Payne, that a committee of nine be formed with power to add. The following were elected:: — Messrs J. R. Sinclair (president), C. Pipe vice-president), Stevenson, H. Jessop, Palmer, Auld, Paviour-Smith, Bridger.