THE WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5227, 16 January 1928, Page 2

THE WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

CTo the Editor.! Sir.—l regret < having been unable to accept the invitation to those interested in the weekly half, holiday to be present at the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday last. The decision arrived at, it seems to me, is most deplorable. I cannot understand th<- mind o ; f my excellent friend when he proposed “Taihoa ; let’s procrastinate ; let us slumber a bit longer while our wideawake friends in the nearby town secure, the rest of our country customers.” I love sport as much as anyone ; but it seems to me that everyone anxious about t'hq advancement of. Paeroa as. a business centre must support the Saturday late night. Saturday afternoon and evening is the, only time that is convenient for the farmers and workers. It is ridiculous for little country towns dependent on country trade to the cities with their large industries and, may I say, internal trade.

Comparisons were made between Te Arolia and Paeroa, but such comparisons only sho,w that Te Aroha. with its tourist trade has much less need for the ope.n Saturday than Paeroa with the convenience of its country customers and workers to be considered. Paeroa does not seem to care the price of a farthing candle what becomes of the country tradq. I guarantee you cannot walk, round Te Aioha on a Saturday afternoon without seeing dozens of country people shopping thero- who would be in Paeroa if the shops: were' open. • Is Paeroa’s “taihoa” policy to land the country trade, along with the Dairy Company’s offices and the cottage hospital ? RETAIL.