Weekly Half-Holiday.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 162, 8 January 1895, Page 2

Weekly Half-Holiday.

+ A meeting, convened by the Mayor (W. A. Sandilands", Esq.), was held in the Feilding Assembly Rooms last evening to decide on the best day on which to hold the weekly half-holiday :in Feilding. There was a large attendance of shopkeepers, assistants, and others. The Mayor occupied the chair, and in commencing the proceedings said the meeting had been convened to assist tlie Borough Council iti arriving at a decision as to which would be the better day to hold the weekly halfholiday, which it was compulsory to observe under the Shop and Shop Assistants Act. The Council were notobliged to take this step to decide on the day, but they thought those most interested — the employers and employes—should have a voice in determining the day to be observed **s a half-holiday for the future. The day has to be fixed annually. Wednesday had been the day in the past, and he thought they could not do better than continue it. Mr J. Cobbe asked who was entitled to vote at the meeting. Had all those present an equal voice 1 The Mayor : Yes ; that was the intention of calling the meeting. They were all interested, and he did not see why all persons should not be considered. Mr W. A. L. Bailey asked if offices ' were obliged to close on Saturdays, whatever day might be decided on. The Mayor : Yes. He then read the clause of the Act touching on the question, showing that any resolution passed at the meeting would not affect offices. In reply to Mr Cobbe, the Mayor was not prepared to say if it affected post or railway offices, but he did not think so. Mr H. L. Sherwill asked if it would not have been better for adjoining local governing bodies to have met and decided, before calling a public meeting, on the same day. If, as in the past, offices closed on Saturday and business places on Wednesday, it would interfere with business and sport. What, then, would become of footbali, cricket, tennis, and other sport 1 Dr. Johnston asked if Falmerston, Marton or Ashurst bad decided on the day of closing. He would like to see the same day fixed by places within, 50 or 100 miles of Feilding, and that day should be Wednesday. He thought the Feilding Borough Council should call a conference of local bodies and he would be pleased to see the Mayor take the initiative. Mr C. Bray, junr., thought it a strange thing that the Act should compel offices to close on Saturday and allow storekeepers to decide on. the day to be observed by them. It would be like it had been in the past, bfrKtr^xrr^fl^otte^^day and others, another, wiinout gmng^jjwmk ti&n&Qt. He would propose " That Saturday be the half-holiday observed in Feilding." Mr O. Cooper seconded the motion, in speaking to which he waa satisfied Wednesday had not been a success, in fact, he thought it a perfect farce. Mr W. Carthew said that the House, in framing the law before them, had left the choice of a half, holiday for shop assistants, to those immediately concerned as it involved a broader principle than that affecting offices. He thought it should be left to shop-keepers to decide. He was sure, from a business point of view, Saturday would be a failure and he would propose, as an amendment " That the Wednesday half-holiday be the legal half-holiday' 7 Mr J. Cobbe ssconded the amendment. He was in favor of Wednesday, as from a business point of view, Saturday was the worst day they could think of. He was certain of this as he had gone into figures and found that his cash takings were 73 per cent more on a Saturday than on any other day in the week. The least business was done on a Wednesday and, therefore, it was the best day. Lots of people came from the country on a Saturday, and he did not think they should be debarred from purchasiug what they wanted. This was not the time to interfere with business people as money was tight and pnces for stock were low. It would be foolish to select any other day than Wednesday. Mr W. G. Haybittle asked if the library and reading room would have to be closed on a, Saturday. The Mayor : No ; they are not referred to in the Act and should not be closed. In reply to Mr Cooper, the Mayor said no reference was made in tbe Act as to the hour of closing on any day other than the half-holiday. If there is a public holiday during the week they were not compelled to close on the halfholiday. Mr C. Bray (senr.) said there were a large number of offices in I\eild,ing which, were compelled to close <&n Saturday, and it would be a mistake&or some pea* pie to have one day^AntUSome another. Mr W. G. Haybittle understood that anyone wishing to. close, on any other day than that proclaimed a half -holiday could do so on giving certain 'entice. Mr A. F. Halcombe would likesa day selected that would suit everyone**. He suggested a conference of local bodies. There should be uniformity. \ Mr E.G. Johnston asked if it was\ compulsory for shops or offices not employing anyone to close. Tho Mayor read a portion of the Act showing that where a business is carried on by a man and his wife, and children under 18 years, he need not close. On tho amendment being put, the Mayor declared it carried by 75 to 55. Dr Johnston suggested the advisability of the Council communicating with other local bodies with a view to getting tbe same day in adjoining towns. '. The Mayor promise^ that wou,ldj write as suggested, The. meeting terminated with a vote, of thanks to. the chairl