THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1929. THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5397, 8 March 1929, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1929. THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

The movement supported by the majority of business men and shop-, keepers of Thames for an open day on Saturday is now an accomplished fact. And. before long the full meaning of this accomplished fact will be brought home most forcibly to Paeroa. Here. Paeroa, is the logical shopping centre for practically all t ? he inhabitants of the Hauraki Plains,. Distance, facilities, and convenience, all gp to make it the natural trade; seat of. that populous area. Paeroa, through lethargy and n'on-investigation of statistics and conditions in other places, has, by retaining the Saturday halfholiday, lost a golden opportunity which will ' o.v be doubly hard <. n cover. Thames business men are seeing to t-liat in no uncpytfei.n manner. Besides offering special attractions in the way of sales, entertainments, etc,, on Saturdays, they have gone further and concluded arrangements whereby buses will bring in people from the country in the eyening and take them home; late at night on the day in question. The service arranged embraces Patetonga, Kerepeehi, Ngatea, Turua, Hikutaia., and, to rub it in with a vengeance, Pagroa. Just to illustrate the thoroughness in detail of. the plans made in the determined! attempt to make Thames, a flourishing town may be mentioned the item that within a short while a ground whqre children ca.n be left to play in perfect safety whilst their parents are left free to do their business will be avail-, able. In the face of this foresight and i.iituitiein on the part of Thamqs the question arises, what is Paeroa going to do in the matter ? Te Aroha on tiie one side, Thames on the other, with Saturday open. Te Aroha has conclusively proved the financial and other benejfits accruing to this being the long shopping day ; Thames, after an experiment with Friday night, lasting over a period of. nine years, has reverted to the former. Surely a good enough answer for Paqroa. Paeroa must follow the Lead Or else lose a great deal of what tjhe town has gained in the course.,of the last few years, and no one wants to see that happen. In most citiejs. and towns the world over one generally lobks to the local Chamber of Commerce as the body having the e'ommunitys’ business interests at heart, to take the lead in affairs of this sort. Unfortunately the executive of that chamber In Paeroa remains so persistently inactive as to render the functions always associated with it non est. An assembly that should lie a constant and respected help in borough and business matters has in reality ceased to exist. To resuscitate the Chamber of Commerce ■it is necessary for the members to requisition for a. meeting and then proceed to place matters on a satisfactory basis,, with a strong, live executive that would fulfil the duties in a wholehearted manner and de some good. If they were to) take up the subject, of a half-holiday in Paeroa there is no doubt but that the town would decide to fall in line with more ’progressive communities a.ml remain open on Saturday.