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Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1921, Page 2

Tire question of the afternoon to be observed for the weekly half-holiday is cropping up for consideration again. It is interesting to recall that when the weekly half-holiday was first inaugurated here it was adopted by the business people spontaneously prior to compulsory legislation. The late Mr W. L. Fowler, and the late Mr John Nicholson weie the prime movers in the reform, and the agreement of the shopkeepers to observe tbe holiday was closely followed. At the outset the (irebell use ( [ to bo rung as a reminder to the people to close the shops, but this was soon discontinued on complaint from some of the citizens as to the unnecessary alarm created by the ringing of the big bell. When compulsory observance came about, Wednesday had proved itself suitable and well established, and it became tit once the regular weekly lialf-half holiday. Falling in the mid-week it was considered the most suitable time for the holiday break. The desire to adopt Saturday now can be well understood in certain quarters, where sporting proclivities

prevail. Where the business of a town is self-contained,, as in the case of lar-

gely populated places and particularly cities, the Saturday has a vogue which endorses its general popularity. It is to be doubted, however, it tor smaller centres, whose business transactions extend to the surrounding country, will find the Saturday half-holiday satisfactory. The week-end is the accustomed pay day for the week, the fortnight, or the month; and it is more convenient for the wage earner and the business premises to find the doors of the lattei open at the time the wages are readily available for supplies and requirements. A considerable sum is paid out in wages at periodic week-ends in our neighbourhood, and the train service is so adjusted on Saturdays, that those evenings are the most readily convenient to come to town, complete puichases, and return home the same night. From a utility and business point of view Saturday night as the •‘late” night is most generally convenient, and the point is whether these solid conditions should not over-ride the mere pleasure of those whose wishes are guided bv their sporting proclivities only. Hokitika has its important trade with the country people, and its first care should be to see that trade conserved as far as possible. Canterbury lias decided to open a lmcerne Campaign as a means to encourage the winter growth of the fodder plant with the object of increasing production. Mr A. Macl’herson, formerly of the Agricultural Department, is one of those at the head of the movement, and his desire is to see lucerne established on every farm in the province of Canterbury. By that means lie believes the country will ensure an annual increase in the production of its primal} products. Despite the fact that lucere has proved itself so valuable as a fodder plant over a long term of years, it, is surprising that tho farmers and pastoralists generally are so slow in its universal adoption. It has been demonstrated that there are few soils on which lucerne will not grow profitably if the sowing and after treatment of the plant is intelligently attended to. Tt is said to be the easiest plant to grow—the mn,in factor to success is not so miKM the soli, the climate, or the location, as the knowledge how to grow it. Being so valuable a crop to grow it should , have a great vogue, and why not in Westland with its pastoral future before it?