THE WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 120, 23 April 1925, Page 6

THE WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Would you bo kind enough to allow mo to answer through the columns of your paper the letter of “First Things First” who appears to be under a delusion that shop assistants in this town desire to inconvenienco her “so that their inordinate love of sport should be gratified.” I quote her words.

r irst wno appears to £>e unaer a aeiusion that shop assistants in this town desire to inconvenience her “so that their inordinate love of sport should be gratified.” I quote her words. May I, sir, as an employee, refute that statement both on my own behalf and on behalf of numbers of rny friends similarly situated. The question of sport only enters in a very minor degree as a reason our desire for a week-end break. Does “First Things First” realise that a “shop assistant” may also be human enough to have a wife and family and a natural desire to bo with them over the week-end ? Does “First Things First” realise that a shop assistant may also have a mind enough to reason for himself and become convinced that an unbroken 5£ days work is the best from an economic standpoint ? Does “First Things First” realise that a shop assistant may have enough civic pride to desire to see Palmerston North on par with the thirty odd leading towns of New Zealand who have Saturday halfholiday? Does “First Things First” class herself so mentally and physically inferior to the 75 per cent of wives and mothers of New Zealand residing in towns where Saturday half-holiday obtains, who manage to struggle along without mistaking green for grey when buying by artificial light? Doe 3 “First Things First” seriously contend that Saturday afternoon is the only afternoon she can shop? May I aUo make a plea for the shop assistants who have genuinely the interests of their employer at heart, and yet desire to have the Saturday half-holiday, and are heartened in that attitude by the large number of employers who advocate the week-end break. The answering of correspondence appearing over a nom de plume is very unsatisfactory, because of the suspicion that one is not answering a genuine letter, but merely underhand propaganda. Let all who have the courage of their convictions write over their own name.—l am, etc.,

GORDON HILLYER, 23 Fitchett street, Palmerston North, April 23, 1925.

Tile letter referred to by our correspondent is quite genuine, and not what he describee as “underhand propaganda.” All letters which appear in this journal are of a bona fide nature, written in good _ faith by correspondents and published without deception. That principle is rigidly adhered to by the “Stindard.”

(To the Editor.) Sir. —In reply to the letter written by “First Things P'irst,” it only needs an answer :’n iho form if a question as fob. lows: —Are our womenfolk less competent to manage their shopping with a complete shopping week in operation, together with their household duties, than the womenfolk of the other 33 towns in New Zealand who now have Saturday half-holiday and lute night Friday; or is the writer. “First Things First,” the only muddier? In future 1 do not intend replying to anonymous letters. —I am, etc.. A. D. CAMPBELL, Chairman Saturday* Half-Holiday Move-

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —In Tcply to your correspondent’s letter on tho above subject, I would like “First Things First” to get an inspiration from the wonderful “Wives and Mothers” who are to be found shopping around Hamilton, Napier, New Plymouth—to say nothing of the larger towns. With marvellous ability and great forethought they actually manage to make their weekly purchases between 9 a.m. Monday and 1 p.m. Saturday, and apparently do not rind it 8. hardship to do so. It lias also been rumoured that occasionally a farmer’s wife and family shop in the larger centres —say Auckland—and manage, too, to get a purchase or two in the 54 shopping days available. Whose pleasure is “First Things First” considering? Give the kiddies a chew bar and an ice cream and a chance at the play area swings, etc., and they will be happier and healthier than if dragged every Saturday through the streets at their mothers’ skirts. Observation indicates that mother is not buying clothes once a week for the children, and always on Saturday after 1 p.m. The question of sport is only a side issue. After all, how many assistants actually play tennis, football or cricket ? Many more work at home in gardens or otherwise improving their homes, and appreciate Sunday rest following Saturday toil. There is a lot of nonsense talked about week-end holiday, as if it were an entirely new and untried experiment. Don’t bo selfish, voters. Shop assistants are not unreasonable in asking to be placed upon the same holiday footing as the majority of workers. You do not find present Saturday half-holidavites clamouring for Wednesday half-holiday. Why ? I am, etc.,

ADVANCE PALMERSTON NORTH