SATURDAY HALF HOLIDAY.

Evening Star, Issue 3322, 13 October 1873, Page 2

SATURDAY HALF HOLIDAY.

To the Editor, Sir, —A short time ago several letters appeared in your columua on the Saturday half-holiday movement, but apparently without any result; but now that the Bill Mr Bradshaw has been successful in getting

pM«ed baa come into force, that ro female shall work in factory or drapery establishments after 2 p.m. on Saturdays, I think it opportune that the males should take steps to get the great boon also ; but unless this is brought about by special Act great obstacles are sure to intervene, such as the usual obstinacy of employers in granting such a boon to the employed till compelled to do so, and the principle of paying wages on Saturdays instead of say Thursdays, a custom most inimical to social prosperty and happiness. If the habit of pa\iug working people on Saturdays is continued, of necessity they will spend their earnings on that day. But the working classes should take into consideration that by concurring in this arrangement they are the means of keeping hard at work a large class of their fellow-creatures during the very hours they themselves think bo much of for recreation. It is a wellknown fact that the London houses find it to their advantage to close at 2 p.m., and depend upon it that the Dunedin houses would find the same beneficial results follow. Are our young men to have no opportunities afforded them for mental culture or for recreation ? Is nature to be only enjoyed by a favored few ? What would become of our Rowing flubs, Golfing Clubs, Cricket Clubs, 4c., if this Saturday half-holiday was not enjoyed by some ? I hope that the two hundred or more females rejoicing to-day over the Bradshaw Act will sympathise with their friends of the sterner sex, who are not as yrt bo highly privileged, and use their influence to prevent Saturday shopping. Surely none of themselves nor their friends will be found within a shop-door after 2 p.m. on Saturday for purchasing purposes.—l am, &c., Historicus. Dunedin, October 11.