THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 1915. THE STATUTORY HALFHOLIDAY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 8, 29 January 1915, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 1915.

THE STATUTORY HALFHOLIDAY.

"We nothing extenuate, nor net down aught in milice."

The subject of the statutory weekly half-holiday for Pukekohe for the current year came up for discussion at the meeting of the Borough Council held on Wednesday evening. Petitions for the retention of the present day of holiday (Saturday) and for the substitution of Thursday in placa of Saturday were presented. Arguments on eith°r bide were advanced by Messrs Woollett ' (for Thursday) and Perkins (for Saturday), the only novelty arising therefrom being that this year Thursday wa3 the midweek holiday asked for instead of Wednesday as in the past. In the end, the Council saw no rea°on why the week end holiday should be disturbed and a resolution declaring Saturday afternoon as the statutory period for weekly comtion from work was cirried. Expsrience in Pukekohe has failed to show that closing on Saturday is a hardship or an inconvenience either to the trading community or to the local residents. A mid-week holiday tends to dislocate business whereas a Saturday half-holiday gives a welcome relief from business cares both to employers and employee'. Pukekohe appreciates the facilities afforded by the Sunday eyening express train stopping at Pukekohe. If the week-end holiday was curtailed it is reasonable to expect that there would be a reduction in the number of passengers travelling from Pukekohe to Auckland to spend Saturday afteruoon and evening and Sunday in that city, and if such came about tbe stoppage of the Sunday night train at Pukekohe would undoubtedly be cut out. Thus, even on that account, the retention of Saturday as the day of the statutory half-holiday is to be commended. Then again certain trades are affected by the 1 Factory Act which compels the workers concerned to rest from labour on Saturday afternoon. That being so serves as an additional argument for the whole community to follow suit so that the holiday should be general.