STATUTORY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2833, 13 January 1925, Page 3

STATUTORY HALF-HOLIDAY.

COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY DECIDES ON WEDNESDAY. A letter was read at last night’s Borough Council from; the local Chamber of Commerce, urging the Council to adopt Wednesday as the statutory half-holiday for Foxton, for the ensuing year. A deputation from this body, comprising Messrs D. Christie (president!, R. McMullian, and Winstanley also waited on the Council in support of the request. A deputation from the local Retailers’ Association, comprising Mr Tongs (chairman) and Mr G. A. Tver was also present with a similar request.

In support of the Chamber’s request Mr Christie said that he had reason to believe that a petition was to be presented to the Council that night praying that Saturday be observed as the statutory half-holi-day. The Chamber was opposed to this. There were only a few bona fide business nten who had signed the petition and if they were not satisfied with the Wednesday halfholiday there was nothing to prevent them closing on Saturday. The law provided for this. He did not see why the town should be upset for the sake of one or two people who wanted a half-day on Saturday. One argument raised in favour of the Saturday half-day by its exponents was the fact that sports bodies would benefit. As business men they, placed business first, then sport.

Mr Tongs (Chairman of the Retailers’ Association) speaking in support of the Wednesday half-day, said that Saturday was pay day at the mills ayid other places and if Foxton closed down that day they would greatly jeopardise their businesses. People would simply go elsewhere to do their shopping. If people shopped out of town it would affect the welfare of the town, and that meant affecting everybody. Mr Winstanley said that Palmerston N., Marton and Feilding had all tried the Saturday half-day but had found it a failure. Levin, Shannon ajid Palmerston N. were all too near for Foxton to try Saturday. People would simply go lo these centres to do their shopping. Mr Tyer expressed the opinion that there was little to worry aobut. He felt confident that the Councillors could quite ably deal with the' matter. He pointed out, however, that the prosperity and social welfare of the town depended largely on the prosperity of the business portion of the town. The amenities of the place were heavily borne by the business people. If the business was affected so was the social progress' of the town. He was opposed to Saturday as a half-day as he considered it would be a bad thing for business. The movement for a change-over was mostly in the hands of young men who were without business worries. He felt sure, however, that in a few years, these young men would see things in a different light. The only opportunity mill employees had to do their week-end shopping was on Saturday. Up to this time no appearance had been made by “the opposition,” search having been made three times for the missing deputation. Finally the Town Clerk succeeded in locating the deputation, which consisted of Mr J. Madden. He presented the Mayor with a petition oentaining some sixty odd .signatures, praying that the statutory half holiday be Saturday for the ensuing year. The names were read out by the Mayor and proved to consist of about twenty minors and the signature of at least one Himatangi residept.

The Mayor moved the following motion, seconded by Cr. Smith: — “That Wednesday be observed as the statutory half-holiday.” In outlining the arguments in favour of the Saturday half-holiday, Mr Maddem said that the majority of people in Foxton were not in a position to leave the town to do their shopping and those who could would do so in any case .Now that the Shannon bridge was down, Foxton would certainly get Moutoa and Marotiri residents to do their shopping locally. Referring to sport, he said shop assistants under the existing half-holiday never had an opportunity of taking part in sport. If this petition was rejected, another ong would be taken round, in fact, it was being taken round now, to request a poll on the matter. He thought the Council should give Saturday a twelve months trial. Saturday had always met with dissensention when lirst mooted, but after a trial was found to be the best in small towns. The Mayor: Nane an instance. Mr Madden: There are plenty of small towns in the Hawke’s Bay that find it satisfactory. Hastings for instance. The Mayor: That’s not a small town. Mr Madden: Well it’s not as big as Napier. Cr. Walker said conditions were entirely different in Hastings. Cr. Adams said that he had been asked for his signature to the petition and had given it. He wanted the boys to have a good time. “They could have three Saturday nights a week as far as he was concerned. If Saturday as a half holiday was going to affect business, however, he was opposed to it. Cr. Parkin said he had signed the petition “to see if it would bring something to light.” Cr. Smith said he \yas opposed to tl\e half day being changed to Saturday unless it was universal. The petition contained the signatures of a number of businessmen but they had not put in an appearance to support their request, which showed ' weakness of their case. The list al-

so contained the signatures of some twenty minors, who had no vote on the matter.

Cr. Ross said that a great many people looked to Saturday to do their shopping. ‘W’airoa had tried the Saturday half-day but had found it a failure. It ws a case of the minority having to suffer for the majority. Cr. Walker spoke in support of the Wednesday half-dav. Cr. Bryant said lie would like to sec the half day on a Saturday hut it would be no good for business as Shannon and Levin were too else. He pointed out that a poll could be held on the question at the election in April. The Mayor considered it would be doing wrong to close on Saturday. Saturday as a half-holidav was all fight in the big centres but was not successful in spiall towns. The mfotion was then put and carried unanimouslv.