AFTER HOUR TRADING

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20726, 9 February 1939, Page 15

AFTER HOUR TRADING

GROCERS PENALISED DEMAND FOR PROTECTION (By Telegraph.—Press Association) TTMARU, Wednesday Complaints of Sunday and afterhours trading were made at the annual conference of the New Zealand Master Grocers’ Federation at Timaru to-day. It was stated that unless the practice was stopped employers would be forced to dismiss employees. “ Sunday and after-hour trading is, if anything, more prevalent, and storekeepers who openly flout the law look as though they receive moral support, from the powers that he,’’ said the president. Mr M. J. Campbell, moving the adoption of the annual report. “ Grocers as employers of labour observe award and closing hours, and yet other storekeepers who do not employ labour sell goods at any time. The position is most unfair, and the Government should see that trading is restricted to proper hours.’’ Mr ,T. F. Turnbull, of Wellington, who seconded the motion, said that after-hour trading was rampant. Unless they could get protection from unfair competition after hours they would be rnmpelled to dismiss employees. Tf they could put up a proper ease to the Minister of Labour there was every likelihood of a new Shops and Offices Act being brought into force, which would give the trade some protection against after-hour trading. The following remit was carried:— “ That, the Ministers of Justice and Labour he requested t.o ask their respective departments when taking action for Sunday and after-hour trading to proceed also against the purchaser under Section 54 of the Justices of the Peaee Act, 1927. for aiding and abetting in the commission of an offence.” Another remit stated that the Government should be urged to introduce a measure fixing universal opening and closing hours applicable to all shops.