MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1905. THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11485, 19 January 1903, Page 4

MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1905. THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

The controversy as to tibe beet day for the weekly hell-holiday still rages, end it is evident that there ia much to be eadd on both eidee of tbe controversy. The advocates of Saturday were first in tbe field, and certainly made out a very strong case, vrhkdh t&ey supported by a largely-signed petition. Those who wish Thursday to be retailed were rather later in the field, but have nevertheless been able to bring forward many cogent argument* in favour of allowing the (present arrangement to continue and are fully (holding their own in the matter of signature* to their petition. In these circumstances the conference which is to meet to decide the qu&iacai will have a very delicate task in coming to a conclusion, la oar opinion they ought to approach the case in a judicial spirit, weighing the arguments and evidence on both eidee, and t&en giving their decision ia favour of the course which seems best ia accord with the public convenience as a whole. They ought, in fact, ea tar «* possible, to promote the greatest 'happiness of the greatest number, considering not tile employers alone, or the workers alone, but the consumers as well ac the two classes more djnmedktely interested. In order to do thai the delegate ought to be able to bring to the Conference an open mind, unfettered by any pledge*. The local bodies concerned ought, in our opinion, to follow the example of the City Council, and give their delegates a free hand to decide on the merits of the case according to the evidence brought before them. Unless this ie done the "Conference" will not be a conference in the true sense of the term. If the representatives of the different local bodies are to go merely as delegates, instructed beforehand as to now they are to vote, we need sot have say conferecoe at all. Tbe metier could be decided by a direct rote of tbe local bodies concerned. This is certainly sot what was contemplated by tbe Act, nor do we think it the best -way of dealing with -tie question- l*t the representatives be elected to the Conference simply oa tiie uoderetandiog that they aw to do what is beet

for the community as a whole, end let. them first hear the evidence and arguments on botii sides before coming to a decision. If that ware <kme, both eidee ought to be content to accept it without further demur.