SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2416, 23 March 1915, Page 7

SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY

PETITIONERS AND THE MAYOR, . Members 'of the _ Saturday Half-lioli-day Association waited upon the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) yesterday to present the first portion of.their petition for a poll upon the half-holiday question. The number of signatures required to authorise the taking of a poll is approximately 4600, and the petition presented yesterday_ morning contained fully 5600 yalid signatures. The surname, Christian name, occupation, and address of signatories are given, and Mr. S. W. Croskery and others who took part in the. checking for the association have filled in the roll number of every person on tho city Toll who has signed. Mr. D. M'Laren, who introduced the deputation, said that the-first batch of signatures only was being presented in order that the investigation of signatures might be commenced. Mr. R. Pearson said that the signatures numbered abbut 8000, and allhad been checked. Some names it had been' found wero not on tho roll, although- the persons signing were entitled to be enrolled. Mr. Pearson' referred to details of the petition, and expressed the opinion that the Saturday Association would have no difficulty in gaining a- victory. He himhclf believed that the Saturday half-holiday would be to the advantage of all. as it would bring businesses in "Welling ton into line with other cities, and I would spread business more equally over the week. Mr. A. J. Humphries, acting-secretary of the association, stroke in the absence of tlie secretary, Mr. Croskerv. He remarked that on this occasion shopkeepers and shop-assistants met on common ground. They were alike the servants of the public, and it was for the public to decide when the holiday should he. He hoped that the public would recognise that it was to the advantage of the shop-people that the "holiday should be taken on Saturday. Ho_ referred to the number of checked valid signatures which promised to exceed the requisite ten per cent.

The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) acknowledged the receipt of the petition, and congratulated the promoters upon their enterprise. Since the matter had been mentioned, lie thought there could bo no obpection to supplementary lists of signatures being presented before tho date for filial March 27. He welcomed the interest in tho welfare of the people, which was stimulated by the desire to arrange for a universal half-holiday. The petition looked to him to 'have been prepared in an orderly way, and the number of signatures to be well up to that required.