HOLIDAY DATES

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 112, 21 November 1938, Page 2

HOLIDAY DATES

PROBLEM IN GISBORNE

SHOPKEEPERS DISAGREE QUESTION STILL UNSETTLED Difficulty is being experienced in Gisborne amongst shopkeepers in coming to ail-amicable arrangement in connection with the Christinas and New Year holidays. At a meeting of retailers recently a vote was taKen and the result was that, opinion appeared to be equally divided- It was then, deeided that as there did not appear to he a decided opinion in favour of the late night on Christmas Eve that the late bight ■should he observed as usual on Friday and the half-holiday on Saturday. A section of the shop-keepers is now apparently determined to hold out in favour of tlie Saturday late night. The usual weekly half-holiday is new unsolved in Gisborne ail Saturday. The quarterly meeting of the Poverty Bay Employers’ Association was held on Friday night. Discussing the question of Christmas shopping hours, it was resolved to ask all retailers tu be united in regard to the half-hoiidr.y and the late shopping night. The association itself. while only indirectly concerned in the question, was oi the opinion that the less nueviercnc.* in. shopping hours, from the point of view of the pidilic. the * better ; and from this point- of view the usual late night on December 23 and the half-holiday on Saturday. December 24, appeared to be in the best interests of all. Furthermore, an opportunity occurs this year to give employees a good break without any inconvenience to employers, and also shoppers going away an early opportunity for their departure on Saturday afternoon. Representatives of those shop keepers who desire to remain open on Christmas Eve canvassed Gisborne mi Friday and stated that they received support frojn 80 shopkeepers, this number excluding confectioners, fruiterers. butchers and grocers. It was also understood that butchers wished to remain open on the Saturday, whiie grocers intended meeting on Month,; :| (to-day) to determine their attituch*. ,/| The action to canvass the towtt'.was .1 agreed to at a meeting of thosifitl• A# sirinor the Saturday late nigliwb’E tx '"■* * ■ ' vf. M*-?. Christmas week, and those whyD etw- j ried out the work state that they in re satisfied with the response Li I\B. Herald. ' V' ;