THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 95, 24 April 1911, Page 2

THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

XO THE EDITOB. Sir, — When one sees the large number oi men, women, and ohildren enjoying tho sights of the shdps on Saturday nights, making their purchases of boots, drapery, hats, caps, grocery, etc., you at once say : "Is it worth while to change the present old-time institution of shopping on Saturday nights?" And one wonders why the Trades and Labour Council agitates to deprive honest folk of this harmless pleasure merely to satisfy a few assistants of a, little personal enjoyment in having thoir half-holiday on Saturday instead of Wednesday. As society is regulated, it seems that, a portion of workers must wait on another- portion, and that being so I maintain that the shops being open on ' Saturday, when some are having their holiday, is just as much a convenience for the great majority as restaurants, tobacconists, butchers, hotel bars, or we may say even trams or .picture shows. The Trades and Labour Council and some aspirants for civio honours seem very considerate for the shop-girl and shop-assistants. Why don't they be consistent and include the waitresses, the girls behind the bar, and others? Surely if it is necessary for shopassistants to have a week-end holiday, it "is doubly as necessary for waitresses, etc., as their hours are longer and their | much more laborious. Now, I ina*ntain that the advantages of having the shopo open on Saturday afternoon far and away outweigh tho disadvantages. At the present time the business in tho oity is anything but brisk, and I firmly believe that it* takes a retailer all hia time to clear his expenses ; and it will be more difficult when the trade brought to the city by the 4000 or 5000 people who come to the oity on a Saturday afternoon to spend their cash is driven away outside tho city because they cannot possibly come to town on Friday, as most of them livo a long way from the railway station, besides the railway fares are nearly double'; also the worker living out at say, Miramar, who knocks off at 5 p.m., gets home about six, has dinner and a wash, how can, ho come to town with his family and do his shopping on Friday? By voting for Wednesday citizens are supporting the optional -system, as shops can close which day they like, but by voting for Saturday there is no choioe. At the present time the swell shops close on Saturday, because the day suits their business, while other shops 'remain open not as a matter of choice, but because that day suits their customers and the people. Now, is it worth while— To disorganise our city trade? To knock out a good many small shops so as tha larger ones may grasp all? To get our girls and boys back on Friday night when they may be tired to face work next morn? Is it not preferable, knowing it is such a convenience to the general public, that shop girls and assistants should work on Saturday night (instead of Friday), when they can rest on the Sunday if they choose ? Imagine the city on Saturday night in darkness and gloom. , No doubt the City Council will have to get extra lights, and the citizens will have to pay for it. The tramway revenue must decline, and citizens will have to pay higher fares to recoup the loss. Think of all our Wednesday sports being driven on to the Saturday grounds. Finally, I would ask citizens to consider the 'question thoroughly, and not be influenced by irresponsible, people" and traders who, because it suits them to adopt Saturday as the closing day, want to compel their fellowtraders who make their living and pay ex- 1 penses by keeping open on Saturday.— l am, etc., CONSISTENT.