HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4926, 15 January 1926, Page 2

HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION

BOROUGH COUNCIL DISCUSSION.

_ RETENTION OF SATURDAY!

A special meeting or the Paeroa Borough Council was held last night to decide on the statutory half-holiday in ,thc borough for the ensuing twelve months.

In to Cr. Flatt .the Mayor (Mr W- Marshall) said that no petition had been received, and so far as he knew the retailers had given no definite expression of opinion on the matter.

Cr. Flatt said he supposed the council would have to .assume that the public was satisfied with the existing arrangementCr. Silcock moved that Saturday as the half-holiday be adhered to. Seconded by Cr. Hare. Cr. Brenan said he was not too sure that a change was not desirable! The ensuing year might b©| a. good one to try out a change. Cr. Flatt said that in his opinion it was desirable to fix Wednesday for the holiday and thus keep on all-fours, with adjacent towns. Cr. Silcock thought it a great pity that the towns in the Goldfields and Thames Valley could hot adopt a universal holf-holid.ay.

Crt. Hare intimated .that the Chamber of Commerce had briefly discussed the matter, but the opinion at that meeting seemed tb be to carry on with the existing arrangement. - Cr. de Castro said ho did not see how the council could very well alter the day, as there were only two retailers on the council. There was no petition, and apparently the public was quite satisfied. The Mayor pointed out that it was not a, matter for the retailers to decide., The Act distinctly stated that it was the duty of the council to decide the question'? / Cr. Pinder agreed.

x Cr. 'Edwards'said, that he had discussed the matter with several retailers and had found that they were very divided on the question. The majority of any particular class of storekeepers could apply to the Labour Department to close on any halfday, irrespective of the holiday the council might decide bn. Crt. Pinder said that if Cr. Edwards’ contention was correct he failed to see why the onus of selecting the half-holiday should be placed on the council --

Ct. Silcock thought it was unfortunate that a lead had not come from the Chamber of Commerce. He contended that that institution should be thoroughly representative of the‘business' people and it was from them an expression of opinion should hav<> come. -

After further desultory discussion the motion to the effect that Saturday be the/ statutory half-holiday in the borough was carried. CrS. Flatt, Pinder, and Porritt dissented.