MID-WEEK HALF HOLIDAY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4530, 21 February 1923, Page 2

MID-WEEK HALF HOLIDAY.

Sir — I observe a letter in your Wednesday’s issue on the above subject. To my mind, your correspondent hits the nail on the head. Anyone who knows Hawke’s Bay can tell you Napier’s blunder in this respect was the making of the town of Hastings’. There is no market day in country towns to equal that of Saturday. Fathers Jind mothers can get to the township together, whilst the older children, free of school for that day, can “ carry on ” at home. In one town that tlhe writer knows, children are able to come in for music lessons on Saturdays when, parents are coming in for shopping, thus saving much time, horseflesh, and motor oil. Perhaps our local shop keepers' are content to be making a living. Socially and economically, they should aim to do a little more than this. “ Paeroa a city in this generation ” would be a good motto to adopt. SMALL TRADER. [Our correspondent had ample opportunity to raise an objection before the statutory half-holiday was definitely fixed. The universal half-holi-day is being adopted to benefit the majority, and is essentially democratic. PaerOa can survive and flourish without the doubtful extra cash receipts that would be obtained .at the expense of the majority if “Small Trader’s ” suggestion were followed. —Ed. H.P.G.]