THE KING'S BIRTHDAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 125, 28 May 1937, Page 10

THE KING'S BIRTHDAY

A MONDAY HOLIDAY SUGGESTION FOR FUTURE A suggestion that the King's Birthday, which actually falls on December 14, but which it is proposed shall be honoured on June 9, should be observed in New Zealand after this year upon the Monday nearest June 9, is receiving wide support from employers and employees, and it is probable that representations to that 'end will be made to the Government, a "Post" reporter was told today. "If the holiday was observed on the actual date of the King's Birthday the proposal that it should be 'Mondayised' might not be entertained," said "The Post's" informant, a business man interested in large-scale industry, "but June 9 has been selected merely as a convenient midsummer date for Britain, as the actual day falls so close to the Christmas period. There is no question at all, to my mind, thajt a Monday holiday would suit both sides of New Zealand industry—employers and employees— better than a public holiday that falls in the midweek, particularly as a free Monday, with the 40----hour week and the/free Saturday, would make a long weekend break to be looked forward to as a-regular thing coming between Easter and Christmas and dividing the long winter months. , "Opinions may differ upon the next point, but the majority of employers will prefei to" start the King's Birthday week on Tuesday than to have the programme of work broken by a Tuesday or v Wednesday holiday. It has to be remembered also that a general holiday on a Friday always upsets the late shopping night, for the public have the Friday night habit, and if there is no Friday night shopping business is materially affected, no matter what alternative arrangements may be made." * TRADES AND LABOUR VIEW. The proposal to "Mondayise" the holiday was referred also to Mr. F. D. Cornwell, president of the Trades and Labour Generally speaking, said Mr. Cornwell, the council was fully in favour of observing public holidays on Mondays ratlier than on mid-week days, but he would not like to commit the council before the proposal had been fully discussed. However, if a majority of employers favoured a Monday holiday and employees also leaned that way there were good grounds for representations to the Government. Wednesday, June 9, had been definitely fixed as the day of observance this year, but the proposal was well worth consideration in regard to future observance.