Universal Half Holiday.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 May 1913, Page 2

Universal Half Holiday.

XOT FAVOURED IN LEVIX

What Mr James Prouse described as "a burning question in the development of the town of Levin" was the subject of the Y.M.O.A. Debat-

ing .Society's first discussion in the

HPS syllabus. The debate was on the question whether the present system of half-holiday (Wednesday

for most retail shops and Saturday for any shops or trades that desire

that day) w.as to be preferred to a universal half-holiday to bo observed on Saturday. The affirmative, was taken by Mr D. AY. M atnoson, nnd the half-holiday was championed by Mr A. J. Harding.

"Mr Mintheson contended that under the present system the Levin retailors took their half-holiday when the flaxworkers and other general workers wore still busy, nnd on Saturday the retailers were ready to attend to those customers when their half-holidays came along. And -a

voung woman employed in a shop ■would find it hard to arrange visits to a dressmaker or a dentist if all trades and professions were observing the one day. Under universal halfholiday more playing grounds and more money for upkeep would be refill i rod. Mr Harding said that the question of a universal half-holiday should be approached from the viewpoint of what was best for the whole of the people: not from a personal or on financial grounds. He complained that the Wednesday half-holiday really was n "quarter-day" holiday; it begun at about 1.30 p.m. and ended (for practical purposes) when the sun went down. He favoured the "week-end" holiday, which allowed of a good break from work, a chance to obtain relaxation from the hustle and strife of business worrv. in healthy sport and in wanderings in the country or on the seashore. He was no advocate of the Continental Sunday, but he thought the Church should follow the ■worker on Sunday to the country or the seaside or to wherever else he might go in .search of recreation ; it was for purposes of recreation that the Sunifay was created. As to the stress laid upon the business aspect of the question of the half-holiday, he submitted too much was made of bus mess; the "bogey of business" came into everything, from li'ilf-holidaw to .Balkan wars. It was time this tallc of "business' 1 was dropped.

Mrs (■, T\. "Wilson dissented from Mr Harding on the point that war was based on business: it whs on sentiment, not business, that wars "'ere based. Norman Angell had .liown that very clearly in his works, and notably in his instance of how Cerniiany (the victor) had suffered more, financially, than franco (the loser).

Mr Denton wanted to know how t he week-end holidays spoken of by Mr Harding- tho trips into the country and to the seaside—were to be enjoyed when the trains, etc.. were stopped from running (in ordei to give cfleet to the universal lialfholday).

Mr \ inc'ent objected that when Mr Harding spoke of there being too much 'business' hi this question In was beside the point, which really was that there was not enough "ill" business to properly roiniiuorat" those working m it. On the general ipiestion. Mr Vincent thought the week-end holiday eventually would come and would ho found to cause no permanent dislocation.

Mr Dean said th;it iis «in assist.!ill and as a worker behind the counter, ho had experienced .Monday. Tuesday. "Wednesday. Thursday and Friday liaff-holidays, awl he could say that Wednesday was the best of tlieni ■'ill. Tf retailers were compelled to ('lose on Saturday afternoon, their takings would he reduced. Wednesday afternoon made a break in the week, and was best. Mr T>. Hrnid said that Mr Dean expressed it well when he said Wednesday "made a break in the week." ft broke the week right up! Mr Dean had tried every dav except Satuiday: he should try Saturday before coiideninins: it. A vote was taken on the merits r >i' the debate, and it was decided 'hat the advocates of the present system ('optional Wednesday) kid advocated their case best.