SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2133, 16 July 1907, Page 1

SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY.

APPEAL FOR UNIFORMITY. Fi:om tlie chairman of the executive of the Southland Saturday HalfHoliday Association, ive have received a copy of the following open letter Realising the impossible position created by the Shop Assistants’ Act, 1901, in permitting the public bodies, by delegation under the Act, to fix the weekly half-holiday and the Factories Act making it mandatory for factories to close on Saturday afternoon, supporters here in favor of necessary reform have inaugurated a Statutory Saturday Half-holiday Association to endeavour to secure legislation to give effect to their aims, viz., a statutory lialf-holiday on Saturday throughout the colony, and to endeavour to enlist the co-operation of other centres in the colony towards forming a N.Z. Saturday Hallholiday Association. The following important factors support tho arguments of those favoring this reform:

1. That thorp can bo no two opinions that the weekly half-holiday under existing circumstances must cease, that legislation must he enacted appointing one afternoon a week throughout the colony as a statutory half-holiday. 2. That the existing laws compel factors to observe Saturday, and rightly too. 3. That all departments of the Civil Service, including Education and Banks, observe Saturday. 4. That most of the largo financial, wholesale, and many of the retail firms observe that day. •5. That no legislation would bo entertained to compel the powerful agencies above referred to to observe other than Saturday, therefore public opinion must bring the subsidiary interests into line with those of the

greater. 6. That Saturday is certainly the ideal day. It is the end of the week, when relaxation from toil is, in many cases, essential. It causes no dislocation to trade, nor does it interfere with one’s avocation as the mid-week half-holiday does, 7. That Saturday is beyond question the most unsuitable market day | as business can be transacted only for I a few hours in the forenoon, owing

to tho Civil Service Departments, banks and financial firms, and many of tlio professions observing that day. 8. That tho keeping of the two half-holidays in tho one week by different sections of tho community as at present is not only undemocratic, but seriously millitatcs against tho efficient training of our Volunteers. This is especially noticeable in the smaller towns, where, owing to factories closing on Saturdays and shops on Wednesdays and' Saturdays, it is becoming difficult to get full musters for daylight parades and for shooting practices. Tho same argument applies to sports and athletics generally.

9. That whore tho half-holiday is held ill the middle of the week, business is more or less interfered with and disorganised twice a week. Tho time is very opportune to organise and forcibly drive homo the fact to the members of the House that a very largo majority of the adult population of the colony are supporters of and sympathisers with the Saturday half-holiday movement. If success is to bo achieved it is essential that an active campaign should bo promptly embarked upon by all supporters throughout tho colony, and an earnest appeal made to those in sympathy with tho movement to organise without delay. It is suggested that Saturday Half-holi-day Associations be started in every centre, that as many members as possible bo enrolled, and that jietitions to Parliament bo circulated as widely as possible for signature, and any other means that may seem to supporters suitable, to endeavour to securo this absolutely necessary reform. It is the inevitable, therefore it must bo pushed to the front and kept there till it be an accomplished fact.