HALF HOLIDAY QUESTION

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4801, 23 January 1925, Page 2

HALF HOLIDAY QUESTION

MAJORITY FAVOUR SATURDAY. A POLL RECOMMENDED. Immediately following the ordinary meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council last night a special meeting was held to discuss the statutory halfholiday question. A petition bearing 92 signatures requesting that Saturday .so retained as the half-holiday for the ensuing year was presented, and a counterpetition signed by 34 persons requesting .that Wednesday be observed as the half-holiday was also received. The Mayor said that so far as the employers were concerned the numbers for the different days were about equal. Cr. Brenan said that it had always been the practice to recognise the ■opinions of the employers. The Saturday half-holiday had obtained for five years, and he agreed that a change might be desirable, especially ae it was thought that business was going out of the town. He did not wish to oppose the wishes of the majority. If a change was made he understood that certain trades would close on Saturday in any case, and if that was so, the object of closing on Wednesday would be defeated. Cr. Vuglar thought that the public should be studied. He was of the opinion th,at the local tradespeople were not alive to their interests, and the town was not given the chance to progress that it should. The farming community would be in favour of Wednesday being the half-day, and he thought they were entitled to consideration.

Cr. Flatt said that unless the tradespeople were unanimous on the day any alteration would be worthless. He agreed that the public had a right to decide the question, and a poll should be taken. If a tradesman then chose to close his premises on a day other than the one selected by the public the loss would be his. Cr. Edwards said that until license was restored in Ohinemuri he would support closing on the Saturday. Cr. Bain supported Wednesday being the half-day, and contended that closing on Saturday had been a failure so far as the employers were concerned Money going out of the town on Saturdays was a serious matter, and in the interests of the .town he thought a change of days should he made. He favoured the issue being submitted to a poll.

The M a Y° r reminded the meeting that a requisition signed by at least ten per cent, of the people had to* be presented before ji poll could be taken.

Cr. Shand proved a strong supporter of Saturday being the haif-holiday. If a poll was taken and Wednesday decided on he was of the opinion that tlie majority of tradespeople would fall in with the wishes of the people. Cr. Brenan said that even deleting a number of names considered to be ineligible on the petitions the majority of the people favoured Saturday. and as the wishes of the majority should be considered he moved that Saturday be fixed as the statutory half-holiday. At the same time he would suggest to .the minority that a petition be circulated and. presented to the council requesting that a poll be taken at the time of the Municipal election in April next. Cr. Shand seconded.

Cr. Vuglar' said that lie would like to hear the Mayor’s views or the matter. The workers’ as well as the farmeis’ interests should be safeguarded. On Saturday afternoon the town was “dead,” and the interests of the public were not being studied at all.

The motion was then put and carried, Crs. Vuglar and Bain voting against it

The Mayor said he hoped that the minority would at once get busy and present a requisition, and that whatever day was decided on. would meet the wishes of the people and_be in the best interests of the town. He strongly favoured a poll being taken.