THE HOLIDAY DIFFICULTY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1166, 17 June 1911, Page 4

THE HOLIDAY DIFFICULTY.

WILL THE GOVERNMENT ACTP Employers in Wellington, as' in other parts of the Dominion, seem to bo agreed in considering that a general holiday should bo observed on Coronation Day, but it is more than likely- that their aspiration will bo defeated. Tho principal obstacle 'to a general observance of Coronation Day as a holiday in Wellington arises from the attitude taken up by a numerous body of organised workers, A prominent Labour man, speaking to a reporter yesterday, said that, as far as ho could judge, tho general opinion in Labour circles was that it would bo dangerous to tinker with the awards governing various industries. Many aw'ards must needs bo tinkered with more or less if lhe.ro is to bo a general observance of Coronation Day, and, in view of Labour's attitude, the prevailing muddle is likely to continue. Efforts are still being made by employers in a number of trades to arrive at an understanding with their employees on the question of the holiday, but prospects are not particularly hopeful. The Wellington- Employers' Association, however, has addressed a letter to tho Minister for Labour, in tho hopo that Ihe Government mav bo induced to abandon the altitude of aloofness it has hitherto preserved towards the muddle. Tlio master bakers of the city have- decided not to deliver any bread cither on Coronation Day or on the Prince of Wales' Birthday. Modified arrangements will bo made for the supply of tho "staff of life," and details, so far as they 0011-c.-M-n. the public, will lx) notified boforo tho holiday. So far as the grocers of the city are concerned, according to tho secretary of tho Employees' Union (Mr. E. J. Carey), tlio men refuso lo bo a party lo tinkering with the award. Comparisons, Mr. Carey remarked, had been drawn be-iw-een tlio present occasion and that of last year, when the Prince of Wales' Birthday was not observed, but the positions were not analogous. The non-observ-ance of the holiday last year wns due to (ho la to notification of (ho Prince having been gazetted as Prince of Wales. As a compromise, it was eventually agreed (hat November 0 should bo observed, in lieu of the holiday not observed. Tho position now was" that the Prince of Ww's" Birthday was an award holiday, and that Coronation Day was not. No request for any arrangement, Mr. Carey added, had been made to (ho union by tho master grocers.