CHANGED, HALF-HOLIDAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1772, 10 June 1913, Page 5

CHANGED, HALF-HOLIDAY.

VERY INHOSPITABLE WEATHER. (By Teleffraph.—Special CorrwDontJenM Christchurch, June 9. Ever since ChristchuTch commenced its civic career Saturday night has been singled out by the citizens from all other eights of the week, and raised to the rank of a popular institution. The great concourse of citizens usually fills roadways and sidewalks' to overflowing, and drives cabmen, and tramway motormen.- to distraction. From tho Clock Tower to Cook and Ross's corner has been a recognised Saturday night promenade, and from 7 p.m. till 9.30 p.m. each Saturday the direct route between these two points has been occupied by as many citizens as could crowd into it. All that is now past—the half-holiday has changed—and last Saturday night had in it mingled, elements of gaiety and melancholy. The Crowds were even larger than, usual, perhaps because the opportunity for such gatherings was bo soon to be banished. People discussed the impending change, and tho opinions which its members . expressed doubtless varied. The shop assistants,: of course, were cheerful, but the . proprietorial attitude was a somewhat lcs9 beatific one. . A retailer in a largo way of business declared to. a reporter that the innovation would be found so disastrous to trade that it would, never bo repeated. 1 , Another,.less positive and more judicial, said that his impression was' that the volume of his trade would deorease for a while, but he hoped that whep things were settled down the balance would be Testored. ■ . . . Another-revidently a confirmed optimist -said that his firm had opposed sectional lialf-holiday closing, but had always wen prepared to acquiesce in a universal Saturday half-holiday* "I don't think make a hap'orth of difference to us, he said, "and, aqyway, I'm too busy to ttoitjj over what can J t be helped, and has to be. Among the smaller shopkeepers, inquiries elicited, for the most part, only vague generalities regarding the probable on trade, but in 6ome instances there seemed to be an under-current of conviction that Saturday closing would divert some of the .trade from .the larger houses into the hands of the small traders.