THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 464, 24 March 1909, Page 10

THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Sir,—l an? again penning you a few lines on the half-holiday question.. I want first to reply to a letter signed by a Nelson resident, in reply to my last letter which appeared in The Dominion, and was copied into our "Mail" of January 28. Its half truths are worse than untruths, for they are misrepresentations of facts. Ho stated that after a year's triaj of the Saturday half-holiday tho local Retailers' Association refused to take any action as an association; as there was so much difference of opinion among its.members as to whether Wednesday or Saturday was the better day. Now, sir, what are the facts? The rules of tho Nelson Retailers' Association prohibit discussion of the Satur-day-Wednesday half-holiday. Jlr.. Frank Hurley, secretary, Nelson, and Mr. E. Grove, senior, - Nelson, president, will confirm this statement. ; Again, it is stated on good authority (I suppose a Nelson resident's) that a large proportion of country stores would have followed tho city's lead but for tho City Council's action in altering tho day to Wednesday. Now, sir, "Nelson.Resident"- ought to know this: that the country decided before the city. The country stores did not want any Saturday half-holiday. Now regarding tho requisitions. Ho says tho Saturday people were caught napping. Had "A. Nelson Resident" desired to fairly state his case he would havo told us how many days they employed a man to canvass .the city, and the result, which was 36 signatures in favour of Saturday, against our lists of 122 iu favour of Wednesday, If clean fighting and a fair representation of facts were put before the public,' wo should not fear the result. There arej at any rate, 122 business people in Nelson who aro quito satisfied, .from a shopkeeper's point of view, that Saturday closing is a serious inconvenience to the general public, both town and country, and a complete failuro from a shopkeeper's point of view. Saturday, March 6, was the dav for the re-opening of Nelson

city for Salurdny business. The businos& people had arranged with the. Railway Department to run a special excursion train from the end of the line; arriving at 4 o'clock and returning at 10 p.m. Various reports as to numbers were received. Tho Railway Department reported 400; tho ordinary train arriving at 7.30 brought another lot, some 300 to 4UO, and the Nelson public came out as of old to make their purchases. Tho result was an old-time Saturday night's business.

I liavo consulted leading cash grocery dealers, butchers, and drapery firms, and they all agree that the change suits the general public, and is a distinct improvement in business. Butchers, greengrocers, fruiterers, confectioners, tearooms, hairdressers aro unanimous in their desire' for all kinds of shops to bo open. These businesses could keep open on Saturday, being exempted businesses. Many of them did on both nights, but it was a miserable failure. One man, who runs n tearoom, told mo his Friday and Saturday showed an incrcaso for £2; another better still; a • third employed extra assistants, and was .rushed afternoon and evening. This is only three instances. Trade in that lino was so good tlmt bread and cakes wero sold out and biscuits had to fill tho bill of _ fare. A fruiterer told mo ho did , threo times tho business usually done. Butchers told me they did more on Saturday night than they would have done in a month with tho Saturday half-holiday. One of our largest butchers here is prepared to show his books to prove his loss last year through the change, and also show the trade both heforo the Saturday half-holiday and now again sinco tho change. I send you herewith names of butchers, tearooms, and fruiterers I have referred to. _ ' You cannot conceivo what a difference it makes. Tho people won't como out for business on a Friday, nor will tho people from the country and suburbs como in 011 a Friday night. On a Saturday, although half tho shops aro open, the people won't come unless all trades aro open "for business. On Saturday last wo saw country people wo had rot scon since tho change, and wo have wi uphill fight to l get these peoplo back to do business in tho city. Dozens of our customers who used almost weekly to visit tho city during tho year came in once in tlneo or six months. Threo drapery firms and two or throe grocery firms want Saturday half-holiday. Woll they have had it for 12 months and they can still.hare it. Tho Imy allows them. They say they liavo not lest trade. Well you will say they will take tho Saturday half-holiday. No, not one draper, tailor, or grocer will observe Saturday. Don't you think, sir, actions speak louder than words? You aak has tho Saturday movement advanced in Nelson through tho trial given it. Ask tho Labour Department how many business firms advertised .in January, 1908, their intention to observo Saturday half-holiday before tho council decided the question, and ask them how mny firms aro observing tho Saturday half-holiday this year? From this you will learn 'ho result of ono year's, experience of Saturdaj half-holiday in Nelson.—l am, etc., A NELSON BUSINESS MAN, Nelson, March 12.