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Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1929, Page 4

Tin? en li voni ng interest, in tin* hallholiday pull In lie taken i'ii A\ mlm 10 - tlnv iionl . I In- act ivil ios of I lie business section uf tin- coini'iunity in tin* effort t.n retain Wednesday as (lie weeklv lialf-lmliday. eonfirirs our advocacy <>f the proposal as in I lie lies! interests ol’ the town. Tic* law as it, stands provides for a wecl.lv PaK-liolidnv. and the law is complied with hv the selection of a suitable day. That day has been in the mid-week, and it has given employees the respite the law com-

niiimls. and for the public servyd c<|Ual|y well. The matter of a change suggests a dislocation of the regular course of event*. If bet miles a point for coti.siuering w.io should l.e considered must in the dioiee ,)l the day. it is proper j f. coiii-M.- to grant an a]>propriate j time, anil mr many years the mid-week j has woimed most satisi.ict rily for e.m- | p.oyees. 1 laving <1 lie .jiisthe 111 that luarl.er. s me i uiisiilerat.iui should he riven the employer, and ineidentafly ihe aii.lie whs proha..lv receive the least e .nsidcrat.'.)i! of all in the matter of enforcing labour iaws. The employers are emphasising the fact that they desire Wednesday to he retained as the weekly liail-lunulay. and as the i)ae.-.h(iiie of the ton ids pros];, rily. tluir view needs fair e nsideration by all parties. .Saturday waieli has heen suggested as tin* alternative to Wednesday, is not. favoured by the employers because that is the principal shopping day and long night of the week. In a ((immunity .-u h as this win. re industries pay wages at the week end. and there is a lountrv papulation coming ini i town for sli poing purposes, no other day than Saturday would he equally suitable as a late night for country business. The fact is being recognised that if the Saturday night is not retained, a large amount of the weekly trade will be lost to the town, and the community effect of that would he far-reaching. Ft appears to he an occasion to look at the matter from a business point of view. Mo injustice will lie d ne the employees hy retaining Wednesday, because the law will lm complied with, and they will secure the w"ckly respite' the law all ws. Rot an injustice and a loss will be put upon the retail business of the town if toe dnv lie changed, and Saturday selected in the place of Wednesday. Having pint the matter thus pointedly, those privileged to vote should weigh tno possibilities well, and on polling day cast their vote in the public interests of their town.