THE HALF-HOLIDAY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2430, 8 April 1915, Page 6

THE HALF-HOLIDAY

MIDWEEK MEN

A DEFENCE LEAGUE FORMED

ARGUMENT AGAINST CHANGE

Resolutions against the Saturday half-holiday .movement in ■Wellington were passed by a meeting of shopkeepers last evening. Mr. H. Seaton. presided. and there were about twenty-five present.

Mr. Seaton remarked that if the Saturday people carried the coming poll the result would be that for tho next two years Saturday would be Wellington's weekly half-holiday. The experience 'of Sydney and Melbourne, they had been told in the past, had been that the Saturday half-holiday played into the hands of the big man, and meant loss to tho suiall man. Perth had reverted to Wednesday after two years' experience of Saturday. Nelson went back to the mid-week holiday after a year of Saturday. Napier "had found it a failure, after three months' trial. The Experience of Auckland. Now they had Auckland's experiment to guide them. Mr. Seaton read the following letter from Mr. A. Moore, a shopkeeper in Karangahape Road. Auckland:—"Returns after a trial or uearly two years, unfortunately, have moro than borne out tho dead loss of trade sustained by shopkeepers during the first two months or Saturday closing. We were told that the matter would right itself 'when the public got Used to the change, but I can assure you that such has not been the case, and as far as I can see, will never right itself. _ If the shopkeepers of Wellington will profit by our exj>erience, they will fight tooth and nail against 'tho Saturday because, as certain as the sun sets; it will mean absolute ruin to many, of the smaller shopkeepers, not only to. those who are compelled to close, but also to the exempted shops who are allowed to remain open. It is no good even for them, because the shopping public do not come out. The only relief we have here is when a holiday intervenes during the week, and we are aJlowed to keep open on the Saturday, when it iB like old times. Trade goes up with a bound (notwithstanding the evil effects of the war and unemployment). The Saturday closing has killed the weekend country trade, as the people will not come into town on Friday, having to go to work tho following morning. Races, etc., have reaped the benefit, to the detriment of the shopkeeper, and, without we have a change, ruin stares many of us in the face.

"Tho week before last we oanvassed most of the shopkeepers, with the result that out of 600 shops visited over 500 signed a requisition to re-open on Saturdays. This is the present feeling after a, two years' trial. We have obtained 10,000 signatures for another poll on the matter, which takes place on April 28, and will be very much disappointed if we do not carry the day. As far as you in. Wellington are concerned; you should strain every nerve to prevent it becoming law, as it would be much harder for you to recover the mid-week half-holiday afterwards. To sum up the net result here, about 1000 assistants are now enjoying the Saturday half- day who did not do so before, and this is at the expense of some 500 or 600 shopkeepers." Another Auckland shopkeeper, wrote: "There is not the slightest doubt that wo have never recovered our Saturday trade up to the present time. . ~ The men's trade, fancy goods, and bookBcllors in particular have had a very bad {line, and everyone I know (and their word can bo relied upon) has said the same." Would be Closed on Christmas Eve. Mr. Sea ton added that it was unreasonable to think that shopkeepers would oppose Saturday closing if it was not going to result in loss to them. This year's Christmas Eve fell on a Saturday, and if there was a Saturday half-holiday the shops would have to close on that great shopping day. The Hairdressers' and Tobacconists' Association had decided to throw in their lot with the Wednesday movement. It was •true that a Saturday half-holiday would benefit the stores at Petone, Paekakariki, and such places. Saturday was the only day tho working man and the working woman had for shopping, and, moreover, if all the people had their holiday on- the same afternoon, tho recreation grounds would all be overcrowded. Mr. James Godber moved; "That all present form themselves into a Shopkeepers' Defence League for the purpose of maintaining the existing option in inspect to the weekly half-holiday; that is the right to close either on a Wednesday or a Saturday afternoon. This perfectly fair privilege would be completely lost if compulsory Saturday closing were carried at the forthcoming municipal poll, and in view of this faot, end that many shops would be exempted from closing, whatever th 6 result of the poll might be, it would be manifestly wrong to effect any alteration in the present equitable state of affairs. Further, that as Saturday is the best shopping day of the week, equal, in many cases, to threo ordinary days, it would be disastrous to shopkeepers, and especially to ismall traders,' if the public permitted or assisted by their votes in making any change -in the weekly half-holiday. In view, also, of the' fierce war at present raging, this meeting considers the time inopportune for any changes, and that even in the best of times the enforcement of a compulsory Saturday halfholiday would seriously undermine and disorganise trade." Talk of Vote-seek'lng. Mr. Godbar said that it. would be impossible for the man who knooked off work at midday Saturday to take his family out and do the week's shopping if the shops were closed on Saturday afternoon. If there was a universal Saturday half-holiday the City Council would not be able to find playing areas for all the people; Mr. L. M'Konzic seconded the motion. He said that a good orcanisation was needed, and that he was sure the Wednesday people would win the day. Let those shopkeepers ,who_ desired Saturday close on that dav.' irrespective of the result of the poll 1 Tho motion was carried unanimonslv. Mr. Lance George moved: —"That the present law enabling a poll to be taken on the half-holiday question every two years is a harassing and most un-. justifiable enactment. Shopkeepers are not only put to heavy expense to maintain their privileges in the interests of trade, and in conserving the ronvenience of their customers, but boroughs and municipalities also are exposed to needless outlays of money in connection with the matter. We deem it advisable to petition the Government for an immediate repeal. of the Act, thus placing the business of the country beyond the assaults of agitators and people who have little direct interest in trade." This was seconded by Sir. G. Fownes and carried. In moving the second resolution. Mr. I;. George said that the Saturday movement was favoured by certain Labour leaders who probablv did not really care what day was fixed on, but were looking for votes at the coining elections. Those prosent were enrolled as an executive of the Defence Leaguo, and it was decided to engage a secretary for the body. Tho. chairman stated that ahont £150 would lie needed for the fighting fund, and Mr. A. A. George said that £80 had been promised by those in the ■Tnnm. ,