Easter

ᔥ Stuff.co.nz

A whole lot of shops were apparently caught breaking silly Easter trading laws. None would have been around  Havelock North…the place was like a tomb yesterday.

Twenty-two shops across the country have been caught flouting the Good Friday Easter trading laws, according to the Labour Department.

The breaches come in the wake of a new poll which shows opinion is split on whether stores should be allowed to trade over the Easter weekend.

The Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act 1990 specifies most shops must close on Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and until 1pm on ANZAC Day.

There are exemptions to the Act,  with dairies and service stations allowed to sell essential items and pharmacies able to trade as usual.

Shops providing a service, like hairdressers, can open but can not sell any products, while garden centres are only allowed to be open on Easter Sunday.

If a shop does not fall into one of the exemptions under the Act then it is an offence to open and trade during these days. The owner or the occupier of the shop may be prosecuted and fined.

Of the 38 shops visited by labour inspectors today, 22 were open, the Department said.

I think the laws are silly and need to be repealed. I’d love to see the busybodies at the Labour Department try and prosecute a halal butcher shop for opening on Easter.

This morning a courier arrived with an Easter Gift from the Food and Grocery Council. They say in their letter:

We hope you enjoy sharing some of these treats which have been donated by members of the Food & Grocery Council listed. These companies are proud of the contribution they make to New Zealand and hope you will enjoy their products over the Easter Break – all in moderation, of course.

Thank you.

Todd McClay’s perfectly fine Easter trading bill that would bring some sanity to the present dog bollocks of a law we have now was voted down last night which is a crying shame.

However the shame should be heaped upon the shoulders of the following National MPs.

Shane Ardern (Taranaki-King Country), Chester Borrows (Whanganui), Bill English (Clutha-Southland ), Phil Heatley (Whangarei), Sam Lotu-Iiga (Maungakiekie), Tim Macindoe (Hamilton West), Eric Roy (Invercargill), Katrina Shanks (list), Jonathan Young (New Plymouth)

Not only did you vote with a bunch of unionised pinko wankers and watermelons, I would also like to point out the opening statement about what National stands for;

The National Party was founded on principles of individual responsibility, private enterprise, and reward for individual effort. These principles are the only sure path to a society of personal freedom and rising standards of living for all.

Even though some of those opposed are devout Christians I would bet they think Easter Sunday is a sacred day, well if it is then vote to make it the public holiday and not Monday. Even though Easter was appropriated from another religion in order to encourage conversion. It is the Sabbath that counts and folks, that is Saturday.

Most Kiwis aren’t Christian o to prevent them shopping on a day that is meaningless to them doesn’t promote individual responsibility, private enterprise or reward for individual effort. Sad effort.