HOLIDAYS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 262, 25 May 1910, Page 2

HOLIDAYS.

The Premier of New South Wales is impressed by the success of the Saturday half-holiday in Melbourne and, promises legislation extending the same facilities to Sydney. Opinions differ as to the wisdom of closing all shops and business premises at noon on Saturdays, but undoubtedly there is much to be said for the proposal. It gives a clear week end to multitudes of people who are tied indoors from one week to another, with a short halfholiday in the middle of the week. On the general question of holidays (we have gone a long way ahead of the original intention of these observances, which were denominated holy days) it may be said that the whole system needs considerable revision. We have bank holidays covering all the national saints in the calendar and a good many other dates too, local holidays agreed upon by the shopkeepers, departmental holidays settled by Parliament and holidays which occur just as occasion warrants. Nearly every holiday of this class takes place in the middle of the week. What is wanted is a statutory re-organisation of all public holidays, so that when the King's birthday occurs on a Thursday, or Empire Day on a Tuesday as the case may be, the holiday shall be observed on the Monday in that week. It is then of some value to those wishing to visit friends at a distance, and makes a convenient unbroken week-end holiday without giving unnecessary trouble to anyone concerned. A "Bill to Regulate Public Holidays" would prove popular, we feel sure, with all who enjoy a spell in the week's work.