THE HOLIDAY QUESTION. "We Are So Volatile."

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 140, 7 March 1903, Page 8

THE HOLIDAY QUESTION. "We Are So Volatile."

IT ciunot be nrputed to us as a community thai •< c cvcr-vcik ourselves No ore need level the repioacli or fling the taunt at us that wo make a fetish of our cU-Iy avocation, whatever it may be. On the contrary, the boot is on the other foot altogether. Ir there is ha'f a eLauee for knocking oifl ucrk, and making holiday, we seize it with avidity. At least, it is the piactice followed by that particular class in the community who can afford these things, or who dor.'t have to pay the piper.

Take the cricket match in the Basin Reserve this v. eek, between, the Enghshmeii and the New Zealanders. The Englishman played a match here several weeks ago, axid yet, on this occasion, all the Government departments were closed up on Wednesday afternoon in honour of the event. Of course, it is quite right that the Civil Service should not be allowed to miss anything so educational, and, at the sain© time, so exhilarating, as a cricket match. As for the public, who may have had business m one or other cf the numerous Goveiament departments on Wednesday afternoon, was their convenience to be allowed to over-ride the desire® and yearnings of the aforesaid Civil Service to watch that particular cricket match ? Perish the base thought. * * * So far as concerns the Mayor's invitation for the citizens to observe a general holiday on Wednesday afternoon, it made no difference to the bulk of the shopkeepers, for that is their usual weekly half -holiday. But, in the name of common-sense, why were the public schools closed for -the cricket match? The vast majority of the youngsters had no hope of being sent off by indulgent parent® to the Basin Reserve. They were turned adrift from school in most cases to throng the streets, or to bo a vexation and a care to their unprepared mothers'. From the teachers' poimfc of view, of course, the thing was all right. But, the school system, of the colony is not exactly run for the exclusive behoof of the teachers. * * *• And then, the banks! As Wednesday afternoon vas pitched upon by Mayor, Government departments, and school-teachers! as the occasion for shutting up shop to see the cricket match, w hy couldn't the bankers make one job of it by taking their share of relaxation at the same time ? Perhaps, these banking people are a bit fastidious, and strongly object to getting crushed by the crowd when they want to enjoy themselves. Be that as it may, they elected to make their holiday from Thursday, at noon. And, so it happens this week that the people of Wellington, who really desire to get on with their business, and who can't afford, in their race with the constable, to be condemned to idleness, have had to put up with three half-holidays, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday — two of them for the sake of a cricket match. * * * As for the crowds of youngsters who are set loose from school upon the community whemever the Mayor invites the citizens to make holiday over the arrival of some celebrity, the happening of a cricket match, or the starting of a steam-roller, there really ought to be some restriction upon these all too-fre-quent school-holidays. With long spells at Christmas, Easter, and midwinter, and every blessed bank holiday at their service, the school-teachers might well be merciful. Otherwise, the young idea in New Zealand will be taught to shoot in the w rong direction. It will be a case of all play, and no w ork, with him.