GROCERS AND DAIRIES.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20266, 7 August 1937, Page 8

GROCERS AND DAIRIES.

UNFAIR COMPETITION? ARBITRATION COURT DISPUTE. (By Telegrapn.—Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Friay. Action to prevent competition wilh grocery shops by dairies after the business hours of the former was sought from the Arbitration Court by both parties in the Taranaki grocers’ dispute. The claims for an award and the counter proposals both included a clause seeking to enforce the same business hours for grocery shops and others selling the same main lines. The hearing was adjourned to Auckland. Mr W. A. Croskery, the union’s representative, gave his opinion that the Shops and Offices Act would give the power both sides sought. It provided that the parties to an award, whether they employed assistants or not, should observe any hours laid down by that award. The suggested clause in the award the Court was asked lo make defined lines sold by grocers. When that clause was included dairies or any other businesses substantially competing with grocers would be added as parties to the award. There was a similar instance in the case of butchers’ shops. Any shop selling fresh meat had to observe the same hours as butchers. “ One takes only a quart of milk a day and sells groceries at night,” said Mr Croskery, when mentioning that at Hastings there were 78 dairies. Some of those dairies were In unfair competition with grocers. The .union had urged grocers io try to protect themselves before, but this was the first time the. employers had adopted the suggestion. As the dispute was adjourned lo Auckland, Mr Justice O’Regan asked Mr Croskery to make a statement'* when 111 c Court sat there.