THE SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Evening Star, Issue 2861, 20 April 1872, Page 2

THE SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY.

To the Editor. Sir, —I would answer “ Caesar” in a few words, and prove, I trust, to himself and the public that the statements he has used are utterly false, and not only so but most ridiculous. First, the Sa'urday Half holiday Association do not consider their scheme a failure, nor anything; like a failure, for, supposing it fails now (which is not likely to be the case), the men whoJorm the As ociation are made of different stuff than to ait down quietlv and make no furth r attempt ; for “ Cresar” must know (if he is the tradesman I believe him to be), that qinc£ the commencement of the agitation, it has not paid expen see to ke p them open; the working man and his wife have contrived to get their little luxuries before the Saturday evening ; and, if they have been so thoughtful iu the past, does he think that they will not keep their promise in the future ; and is it necessary that hundreds of men and women should be kept hard at work, that others may get out ■ for a walk to see their friends ? Hatfe they no claim to urge in tbe same way—have they no need for fresh air ; and have not many of them wives at home who'would gladly avail thorns Ives of the privileges which two-thirds of the citizens enjoy ? Surely, sir, the weigh of “ Caesar’s” argument in this is iu favor of the Association, and the argument that .the money would find its way to the publican’s till has been fahly answered by the publicans themselves. Those who oppose the movement, with the most show of reason, are the publicans ; they tell us “ you have ruined our -Saturday night trade, without increasing it on any other days ;” for it is a fact that the last two Saturdays have seen the hotels deserted. And why? Because the Saturday night is the same as other nights, and the working man’s wife having procured the necessaries for the Sunday, the man has no need to go out, and the consequence is that he makes it the same as other nights by his own fireside. The argument about losing L2O, increasing prices, reducing salaries, cutting throats, &c., is so ridiculous that it needs no answer; for all know that if the money is not spent on tbe Saturday, it will be on another day. The same argument was used a few years since in some parts of London when some worthy people tried to get shops to close on Sunday, bnt those who tried it have found that it was not the ease; and I could show that where the Saturday half-holiday has been tried in large towns at Home, it has proved the falsity of “Csesar’a” remarks; but if he is not a “ casual,” I am afraid he belongs to a family very nearly related to him. What is his meaning about a short Act to enforce a public holiday once a month, when no other occurs in the same mouth? Would not this be a far greater loss to the community, and would it be anything in comparison to the boon we now ask ? It is not the mere holiday we want, but wo desire to have the Saturday afternoon that we may not only get free from business, but be able as responsible creatures to worship oar God with mind and body iu that frame which is befitting the house of God and the ordinances of that house. We take his assurance about three-fourths of the shopkeepers being opposed to ns for what it is worth. Has he waited on them to find out?

It is contrary to the general order of things for minorities to rule majorities ; but this is a queer world, and Dunedin, as no doubt you have found, a queer town ; but does the fact that only some ten or twelve wore open last Saturday not speak ? Does the fact that the employers themselves have canvassed for the Association not speak ? I as fearlessly assure “ Caesar ” that not three-fourths of the employers themselves, but three-Fourths of the public too, are in favor of the movement; and were not “Caesar” one of the other fourth who have the desire to open, we should not have read the greatest rubbish that has been written on the subject hitherto. I would in conclusion urge the public for the next few weeks to show their mind on the subject, not on the Saturday, but during the week. It is not necessary to publish the names who keep open ; but let them quietly mark them, and shop for a little with those who close, and they will prove whether we have need to confess we have done wrong. It sßa.ll be a success. I am, &c , A Member of S.H.H.A.