CARNIVAL WEEK.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 26, 25 October 1907, Page 7

CARNIVAL WEEK.

THE (SHOPKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION ' • '-"j APPROVES. OTHER HOLIDAY MATTERS. . Tho question of holidays and - tiiey should bo observed loomed largo :.t the meeting of the New Zealand Shopkeepers' Association held yesterday afternoon., T"ie President (Mr; Herbert' Seaton), in opening tho pro-' ceedings, said that tho first thing they had to decide was whethor they intended to observe tho King's Birthday on the Saturday or Monday. ■'The Secretary (Mr. H. I' 1 . Allen) said the 1 position was not generally understood—the shopkeepers really could do anything they' lilted, providing they observed tho statutory half-day. There was no compulsion to observe 'any . holiday—tlio statutory half-day was sufficient in the case of shopkeepers who wore not working under an award. Ho'took it that days • liko Christmas Day and Good Friday would be observed as a Sunday. This was news to several present, -who expressed some surprise that they were not subject to tlio" statutory holidays. It- was stated thattho banks, insurance, and Governniont offices and Harbour Board, were observing tho holiday on tlio Monday. -

On tlio motion of Mr. Millington, it was resolved that the shops', closo 011 the Monday. Tho President explained the intention 'of the Bill that was before tho, Houso, which provided for tlio observancp of any' holiday on the Monday .nearest to tlio date. Ho stated that tlio City Council, Harbour Board, and banks were against the Monday pronosni j and, on tho motion of Mr. Christes'on, it was decided to recommend that all. holidays bo oilserved on Wednesday, or in other places on tlio date of' the ' weekly statutory holiday. The motion was carried unanimously. 1 The President referred to tlio Industrial Association's proposal to observe a week's holiday (Carnival week) between Christmas Evo and January 2.

Mr. Oakcs: Would the includo all tho holidays of tho year? ,!,

Tho President: "Well, I don't suppose thc.v could stop such holidays as Good Friday or Easter Monday, but there were other holidays—Anniversary Day, Dominion Day. Arbor Day, and others that could be blocked in a carnival week. A carnival week would bo a good thine, as it would bring -a lot of people to Wellington, who would spond a lot of money.. I think it would be a realgood thing, for, apart Irom tho trado, it would provide something that Wellington lackocl now."

Mr. Millington said that it might bo awkward for bnkors, butchers, and some others, bul".that did not affect the general question. Mr. Christeson said it would be very much against their interest to close down for a whole week. The fact that thero would be a crowd in the town was the very reason why thfiV: (the tobacconists) should keep open. ■ The .'President said thero could bo nothing compulsory about it. Mr; Oakcs moved : —" That tho Association givo tho Carnival week proposal its heartiest support, providing Parliament deletes certain' holidays during tlio year." The President- explained that the provision niontionod would have to be made by Parliament on account of tho number of statutory holidays provided by tho Arbitration Court awards. It would not do for the whole town to ho observing a holiday and tho factories to be working.