WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2433, 12 April 1915, Page 7

WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Sir,—The effusion of a gentleman by the name of Humphreys, whom I aui given to understand holds some high office in the Drapers' Assistants' Union, calls for at least a reply to his many singular and warped statements. As for the attendance at the meeting of Wellington shopkeepers, held at Godber's Booms on Wednesday last, and the meagre numbers present, upon which he comments, surely Mr. Humphreys knows the difficulty in getting a large number of any class of the community together to interest themselves on the most vital subjects of the day, but if he is doubtful let him call to mind his own meeting in. the Central Ohamber of Commerce, when it was laughable to see the zeal displayed by the "Saturday-ites" by both shopkeepers and the assistants with a union at their back. Perhaps be will give the publio the exact numbers present on that occasion, for their information. I am credibly informed that it was short of the select twenty-five. He distorts the remarks of the Auckland writer. They were: "That out of 600 shopkeepers who originally signed thoir names to tho requisition to close Saturdays, over 500 had changed their opinion after two years' trial, and had signed for the mid-week half-holiday." Possibly Mr. Humphreys is an Australian : but New Zealanders know how tho Saturday half-holiday has worked here in every town where it has been tried. Notwithstanding tho small meeting held, there are several hundred shopkeepers in sympathy with the retention of tho present arrangoment, together with a largo section of tho public, especially the women, as our friends will iiud out on polling day.—l am, etc., W. HODGES. Wellington, April 9.