WHICH DAY? FOR AND AGAINST SATURDAY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 96, 25 April 1911, Page 6

WHICH DAY? FOR AND AGAINST SATURDAY

MUNICIPAL CANDIDATES' VIEWS. MEETING OF SHOPKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. "This section of the Act ha* mad« more dissention among shopkeepers and their assistants than anything that has been put on the Statute Book before,"' declared Mr. H. H. Seaton, chairman at to-day's meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Shopkeepers' Association. The speaker's remarks had reference to the Shops and Offices Act. The executive had put, a, plain question to candidates for the City Council, enquiring of them their views in regard to the lialf-holiday question. Th© secre-i tary read numerous replies. Subsequently a discussion took plaoe, tho chairman's remarks including the above declaration. VIEWS OF CANDIDATES) Mr. G. Shirtcliffe said (in reply to a. question) that he had always advocated the Wednesday half-holiday so as to leave it optional with shopkeepers. He considered that compulsory closing on Saturday would probably be detrimental to most, and ruinous to some, of thei retailers of the city. In reply, Mr. G. Frost said he would support Wednesday on the ground that to institute the Saturday Jialf-holidayu would involve an undue interference with individual liberty. This country) had too many laws. If the Wednesday! half-holiday were approved, Mr. Frost> added, anyone who waaifced to close on Saturday could do so, but if they approved Saturday that excluded the Wednesday holiday altogether. Mr. E. Fletcher replied to this effect: "I hardly thought it was necessary to ask my opinion on this matte, ft is fairly well known that I am, and always have been, in favour of Saturday." Mr. W. J. Thompson said that, if rei turned, "he was willing to vote forth* retention of Wednesday as the statutory half-holiday for shops." This, although at the conference of local bodies in January last, he expressed am opinion that he considered Saturday was the most suitable day for closing. He had since looked into the matter more closely, and had arrived at the conclusion that the present closing day was far and away more suitable for tha majority of shopkeepers. ■ . "I am now, and always have been, in favour of Wednesday as the halfholiday for the city."— Jonn Smith. Mr. W. H. Bennett said he voted Wednesday at present under the -Shops and Offices Act. If he changed his view*, "he would give ample notice." The writer had added -previously that he and his employees enjoyed Saturday) half-holiday, but he quite realised thaft there were plenty -of other branches of trade that it wae totally unsuited for. Mr._ Leigh Hunt replied to the effect that if he understood aright the provision of the Shops and Offices Act; dealing with the question, the day determined by the poll on "Wednesday became the statutory closing day until another poll reversed the position. "If this is so," he added, "the question cannot come before the City Council' during the next two years, &nd therefore is not an issue with which candidates are concerned. Parliament," he con-, eluded, " has placed the matter in the hands of the people, and Parliament] only can alter the law." " ... lam not in favour of th« City Council altering the day at present fixed for the statutory half -holiday. 1 ' — A. R. Atkinson. J AGAINST THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY. The chairman said that a great number of shopkeepers on Lambton-quay were against the proposal for change, as they looked upon it ara interfering with the liberty of the subject' that the people should be allowed to bring about such a change of a thing they so little understood. Referring to the discussion caused by the Act, the speaker explained further. The result of fhe particular section dealing with the question had set employers and assistants by the ear, the former voting for retention of the present' system, and thirty or forty of their employees for Saturday half-holiday. Only, about 10 per cent, of Wellington shopkeepers looked forward to the closing on Saturday. , The Act, he added, had in. more instances set one employer against another. Up to now they 'had practically 700 signatutes for retention of tha Wednesday half -holiday, and this number did not include Chinamen. The signatories were legitimate shopkeepers. " I am convinced that this proposed, change is absolutely against the best interests of the community," added Mr. Seaton, who cbncluded with the hope that' the result of to-morrow's poll would be favourable to tho interests of the association. He thought the majority of 1 them were in favour of the retention ofl Wednesday as the half-holiday. EACH TO HIS OWN BUSINESS. Mr. L. M'Kenzie, a candidate for thai municipality, explained that he did not answer the association's memo., because ho thought his views were well enough known. He considered that every shopkeeper knew his own business best, knew, how it could, be run to the best advantage, and as he thought fit. He went on to say that he had been asked am awkward query, and one which he could! not answer. It was the question of a hotelkeeper, who wae liable under the Licensing Act, while his employees came under the Shops and Offices Act. How would the present matter under discussion apply? The chairman said that eating houses and hotels were exempt under the Shops and Offices Ac£. ' Mr. M'Kenzie made reference to thai competition with local news agente byj the bookstalle on the wharves and raili way stations. Mr. Seaton : The Government apparently is more concerned with the convenience of the travelling public than, with the dwellers resident in the district. AN EXAMPLE FROM MELBOURNE. li> making a strung appeal for the retention of the present principle of halfholiday, Mr. Quinton related some of Ms experiences in Melbourne as a business man, after 6 o'clock compulsory closing came into force. After the land boom things, became very acute, and business was very, very bad. Under th« compulsory closing system tho smaller shopkeepers were ruined one after the other, and he himself had to give up his suburban house and come to live over his shop. Twice ho was fined for disregarding the statute, and he only desisted wlien threatened with imprisonment. He found iv that three months (during his disregard of the statute) that his returns _\yere coming up beautifully, but as a result of his having to close with the big shops, he was quickly rained, with many others. It was a cruel thing. This would bo the lot of many shopkeepers if they were compelled to close on Saturday. At present there was every indication that things were on the up grade, but if Saturday became the half -holiday it would be the ruin of a large number. The press had done well in this matter, and he felt sure it would influence the working classes, whom ho credited with enough common-sense to %x>to the right way. He was sure they were not insane enough to vote Saturday. AN EXPENSIVE CAMPAIGN. Mr. Seaton.. in expressing ■ tho hop© that as many members as could rnanag*

5t should get to work round th© booths to-morrow, said that th© association had gone to considerable trouble and expense to fight tho' battle. It seemed absolutely unfair that shopkeepers should be put to all this expense simply because of a Labour circular and a Labour outcry. Mr. Quinton : These Labour men have got to glory on the shoulders of the working man. During a desultory discussion, th© chairman said that the average rate of wages for men, women, 'and children workers in Wellington was higher than in any other centre — viz., £92 "12s. Auckland was considerably lower. QUERY FROM NEWTOWN. Mr. C. E. Fownes, N©wtown, rang up to say that some shopkeepers there hardly understood the position. These believed that if they voted Wednesday they would lose their weekly half-holi-day altogether ! Mr. Seaton (wearily) : I thought the press had mad© the position very plain and clear, too ! In a general reference to the question, Mr. A. E. Mann facetiously expressed the opinion that if Saturday was chosen the closing day, the City Council would i have to light the city more extensively. ! At present in some quarters th© lighting was so bad that a murder might j easily be committed- unobserved. The discussion closed at this stage. -