Dateline Cowichan: Duncan debates its shopping hours

The second Cowichan Merchants building was opened by Pitt, Peterson and Jaynes in 1912, replacing the one burnt in 1911.

courtesy Cowichan Valley Museum and Archives

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Reading reports of long ago council meetings helps put our history into perspective but often has us shaking our heads over the policies of our forefathers.

At a City of Duncan meeting in March 1923 a shops regulation bylaw came up for discussion.

The intent of the bylaw was to define the hours at which shops should be closed in Duncan — its provisions controlled by a provincial statue.

There was some talk of moving the half-day closing in Duncan to another day, but council said this change would not take place for nearly a year — if at all — because taxpayers would vote on the matter on the annual municipal election day.

On another issue, council called in a UBCM lawyer to clarify changes in the disposition of profits from liquor sales.

Before then, the government retained half a municipality’s liquor profits with the other half going into a special municipal treasury account to be paid out only for maintaining or granting aid to hospitals in the municipality.

Under new legislation, the government would keep 65 per cent, with 15 per cent earmarked for B.C.’s hospitals, while the other 35 per cent would go to municipalities with no strings attached.

1923: mayors

In the annual North Cowichan mayoralty election, on a rainy day that prevented a large poll, 222 ballots were cast with 138 going to Mr. John N. Evans and 84 for Mr. A. A. B. Herd.

1923: libraries

Cowichan Women’s Institute decided to reduce the rental on a room housing the Cowichan Public Library from $10 to $5 per month. The library’s 50 members were charged a nominal fee of $2 per year.

1923: clothes

At Fox’s Cash Dry Goods Store on Station Street: House dresses, good quality, trimmed ric-rac braid, all sizes, special, each $1.50; porch dresses of dainty crepes, in all wanted colours, each $3.95.