DISCUSION AT THE SYDENHAM COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11486, 20 January 1903, Page 6

DISCUSION AT THE SYDENHAM COUNCIL.

-A deputation waited upon toe Sydenham Borough Council last flight with reference to the Saturday half-holiday. Mr J. H. Parker said that since the Sydenham ; Borough Council. aad declared itself in favour of Saturday, and instructed ibS delegates to that effect, a good deal had been done in ti» way of obtaining eignaturts la an opposite direction. Mr Parker 1 gave m bis principal reasons that Thursday I had «lTray* proved convenient, that it was a pleasant break in the middle of the week; that .three times the volume of retail trade was done on Saturday as was done on any other day of tbe week; and that tbe adoption of-fcfciturday would operate prejudicially in tfeo interests of the workers themselves by diminishing .the volume of trade, and consequently <tha > amount of employment. Tbe petition for the continuance of tbe Thursday half-holiday had been signed by <nior6<. than 20,000 persons, and be thought the Council should not disregard rach an expression of popular opinion. Mr Wardell followed in » similsr strain, and urged tbe.Council to wend its delegates .to the with .an open hand, so t2»t they.eovia make their decision upon the evidence which u«if hi be brought be- ■ fore them * ' - ■ - 1 The iUnag**- of the New Zealand Clotti- ' jng factory said> that in Christobaioh the voTwme of business done on Saturday was equal to that done during any other four Ann of the week. •Mr H, B. taae, as the oloest master butcher in Chriatcherch, urged the undesirabkiKss of any alteration in tne halfholiday. , Many of the signatures had been obtained in Bus most hspttasard manner, and he -did not mind saying that half the signatories did not know what they-woe signing. If any change wet* made, two out of. every tone who voted for that change woul&live. to regret, it. , AfcW. MoClea also spoks. Or. Meekaft aak*d if they could manage tSeir meet in the hot climate of Brisbane, why they oottld not do *c same in Cbristchurch? .

On« of the master bottihans. mmnii timt cold storage would be necessary, and bub few retail men possessed, thai. In reply to,».question from a Councillor, Mr MoClea said that ac far as he knew, with one ripgte exception, most of tb* signature* were thoM of purcSusers. Or. A. Smith said that if the deputation had any idea of sons of the canvassers woo attended tbe eon* sake, they- would find thaf some people ted signed Uwor names four or fire tbnss.

Mr Wardett Mid thai so far v.UK petition with- which be had" been connected «• concerned; the greatest ctae had been taken. Tie Mayor pointed oat that a resolution of the Council could only be revoked by the unanimous consent of all the member!. The Council would, at the same time, ewe* fully consider what the deputation had Cγ. Bowden, m the oldett Councillor in the district matfed that le»v» be given to rescind the motion of December 22nd. jtne Council refused to grant leave uMkfl, and the deputation withdrew. < : Cγ. -fonwter objected to come remaxlca which had been made by Councillor*, and moved—"That this Council do now >•$«- jotttn." He thought that the Coßncilior who mid that the Couscil had wasted *n hour ehottld Save considered the feelings of the 20,000 people who had signed thei petition: Cr. Bowdea seconded the motion. Cγ. Jose*, who had made the remark, defended it upon thef tcore of truth, and «ai<t that hs himself had been groaely insulted becaure be had refused to *ign the Thursday petition. The motion wm declared lost on tae voices. ''~'.