SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 86, 12 April 1911, Page 4

SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir,— l enjoy the position of "Onlooker" in having won the chief conftdoueo of tho ladies— in spite of his contention that they aro not capable of oxpre^ing aD opinion on the subject— but if he is so sure "of hn grounds why need he continuo writing down what he is ploased to call tho weaknesses of tho case on the other bide, in such towns as "inconsistency," '•selfiahness," and "injustice?" It is unfortunate that in griving instances of unfair competition by oxempfed shops over those who aro compelled to close "for tho half-holiday he omitted to state that the same thing would apply if Wednesday or any other day were chosen for the half-holiday. This cannot be taken as an objection to Saturday in particular, and the only remedy under the circumstances is to dispense with tho half-holiday altogether. Does ''Onlooker" intend this interpretation to ba put £0 his argument ; if uoi, I fail to sco any other logical one that will annly. We have at present in town chemists" and jewellers who close, by choice, on isat'Tday afternoon, and if their trade was injured by. photographers and tobacconLrs to the extent your correspondent would make us believe, we would boon hoar itbout it from the persons chicily concerned. It may bo news to "Onlookci" ant! otners that while every oi:o cl»u gets a full clay off for every public holiday, a nhop assistant only gains three houv-;. iipt"mo explain : When a public hoJiiV-y Mis in a week a shop assistant forfeits 'hi, VVedncs- ■ day_ aiternoon oii', which means tou.- hours against tho public holiday. Tnen, on the night before the holiday ho can bo v/O'ked two hours extra without pay, which brin<r. ti.uti to six extra hours fov nine hours oil". Why should the shop as^L'diri be tingled out from all ofche.- human things ioj buc'i treatment? 1 quota — Is it justice? 1 ariawer, no! bit it is the host our unfortunate c'aes can at prevent, and, unlike your correspondent, wo will not condemn the whole flock bccaiw-i thero is a black sheep in it. His pica for a. universal half-holiday cannot be taken seriously after all his anxious concern, pio boi:o publico. lie. says. I: clos>c the hotels," but, v.horo will tho visitor and perinuncnt buardoi- get ins meals, arc! wheie will ho .sleep if his place of aboJ-j is clo'-ed? To follow his contention f.nt!ior, he would also close tho railway euiUo". — which would mean stopping- tho mail trains half-way from Anywhere — also. elop-3 shipping offices and stop s-toameib in mid-ocean for their half-holiday, which, of course, is absurd. I am ai/aid his lady buppoiters would iiol go that tdr with him. In closing, 1 vuula like to call his attention 10 tho oolmona of two gentlemen in Australia on tf:o Saturday half -holiday question, v.hich aupojra in to-n>ght's Post. They are not" paid Labour advocates, bu v men connected with largo commercial concern-, and are in a bettor position to judgo the ment- of tlio case, atter giving it. a, fair tiial, than dither ''Onlooker" or SIIO1 J HAND. 7th Apiil, 1911.