Sign of the Times

in Suva Shortened Shopping Hours

From Our Own Correspondent

Suva, Jan. 17.

THE present tendency to shorten work ing hours has reached Fiji. The three leading stores in 'Suva—Burns Philp (South Sea) Co., Ltd, W. R. Car penter & Co. (Fiji), Ltd., and Morris, Hedstrom, Ltd—have recently reduced the hours during which they are open for business by half an hour.

Trading hours previously had been from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with an hour’s clos ing between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. In future these stores will close at 4.30.

It appears that this lead is being fol lowed by other businesses. One evidence of this is the present strike of workers in the motor department of Millers, Ltd, a subsidiary of Morris, Hedstrom, Ltd.

Previously the assistants in the motor department commenced work at 7.30 a.m. and knocked off at 5 p.m. The reason for the present strike is not only that they wish to cease work at 4.30 but they also do not wish to commence work until 8 a.m.

The dispute between the management and employees is at present being sub mitted to the Commissioner of Labour.

Further evidence of the inclination to reduce business hours is shown by the fact that the various copra stores and garages are also closing at 4.30 p.m. It will be interesting to see how this action of the three main stores will effect work ing hours in Fiji generally.

Mr. C. 11. Beach, who went to Fiji from New Zealand in 1939 as Town Engineer for Suva, and who was seconded to the Mosquito Control Committee, has joined the Colonial Service, and has left the Colony to take up a new appointment in Nigeria (says “Fiji Times”).