THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11481, 14 January 1903, Page 8

THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

TO TUB EDITOR OF THE TRESS. Sir, —I see in the town to-day several petitions for the public to sign against tiie alteration oi the market <lay from Saturday to another day, which I believe are getting woll signed. Would you mind giving a warning to the storekeepers that are agitating /or the alteration that if U»«y are independent of the working man, and think he is not to be considered, let them close their shops and show their independence, but not compel others that are depending upon the support of the working class, and are willing to meet them by keeping open. The old adage is, you may take a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink; nor do I think that the public will take it kindly if they are to ba inconvenienced just, for the sake of a few young counter-jumpers' amusement. The feeling in the suburbs is strong against it, but if it is carried* they have in several cases, to my knowledge, vowed they will form thamiselves together and boycott the firms to the best of their abilities, and support only those storekeepers that are struggling to keep the market day on the Saturday.

Saturday is the only day that will suit the working class. Saturday is the only day that they can get into the town, together with their wives and children. Then why alter it? Saturday has always been recognised for die last fifty years to my knowledge as the market day in nearly all the large towns in England, and has always given satisfaction.—Yours, etc., E. C. W.