The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, APRIL, 20, 1929.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, APRIL, 20, 1929.

OF LOCAL CONCERN. A special issue at tlie .Municipal T’oll on Wednesday week will lie the selection by the electors ul the weekly hallholiday. All the days ol' the week are available tor choice, hut it is C[iute (dear that choice rosl.s with the letenfioii ol Wednesday or the selection <d Saturday. Wo made some general reference to tin 1 matter a lew issues ago, hut those chiefly concerned— the business people have been slow to mo\e in any eil'ort to educate public opinion

on the subject. It appears to us, however, that the matter is one of considerable concern to the most responsible section of the community, the business people and employers. In elicet, tluougn those implicated, it appears to us me matter is one involving tiie prosperity ol the town to a con.Mucraoie extent and it would be well 11 tne electors were to ponder the mailer in uieir own minds, be lore

coming to a hasty e.inclusion, it was

iiKiii.ai.eu on ;t I.inner occasion that 1 rum a pleasure point ol view 111 litting hi n 1 in spxii't and pastime, Saturday 11.ui a D o..u deal t < commend it, but a appears to us the voting public .omiiiu i.o.t deeper than mere pleasure ami pastime, alien the alternative is a

mu tier 01 losuig pront. ,■Saturday nas oecoine well coU.ulislicd as the laic shopping night. It nts in so well with the country trade, un Lliat particular day the train serves so well, both uw transport north and south. l>ut a new iactor lias groan up ol late ill die motor car traffic which brings m so many people on business lient. The rows or ears in Weld, 'I an. red and other parking streets, indicate that a very considerable volume oi trade must result from this traffic. Saturday being tiie week-end lits in with pay-day in most industrial concerns and pateriainilas, either personally or by deputy, while the ready cash is at hand, does the shopping, it is questionable whether Hokitika would not lose a large proportion of this class of trade it the late night were changed to Friday. \\oultl the country people be able to adjust their work to fit in with such a change ? Would the head of the Household make it a point of going to town, when there was another day’s work immediately ahead? These are the questions which affect the issue ,rom a business point of view, and chat is material to a town ol this size, which depends on attracting country people to town. The staffing of shops is an aspect for employees to consider. With a declining trade there would he occasion to reduce staiT.s, md employees in particular might do ,w.rsc than weigu the position from their own point of view. 'I he general I Feet on the town is a matter for the iverage citizen to ion over, and in that respect nothing hasty should be clone. A similar poll is to be taken in a neighbouring town, and if not carried there, but carried here, a great volume .of week-end business would be ost to Hokitika, and perhaps lost for ;ood. Ultimately, if carried in the northern town, and rejected here, Hocitiku would be in a position to attract a large amount of week-end trade rom the north. It seems to. us to be 1 case of playing for all round safety ,y retaining the Wednesday half-fmT!-lay, and if a neighbouring town seeds Saturday, then the actual experience of that town will be a guide for my future action here. Tills means decrriiig any change for, two years, but useful experience could be obtained in the meantime, and on that knowledge more satisfactory reason for making any change could then be considered. Meantime, our advice is to leave well alone.