THE SACRED HOLIDAY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8946, 11 October 1907, Page 2

THE SACRED HOLIDAY.

Sick and Starving not to be Believed. Per Press Assjciation. Wellington, October 10. The attention of the Hon. J. A. Millar has been drawn by the Wellington coal dealers to the fact that the State Coal Department has been delivering coal on the statutory halfholiday, whereas they are bound by the Arbitration Act award to observe a weekly half-holiday, Saturday being the day selected. In reply, the Minister forwards a letter from the Hon. J. McGowan, in which it is stated that inquiries have been made into the complaint, and carts were used on Saturday, September 14th, under great pressure from families in which sickness prevailed, local supplies having run short, owing td bad weather on the West Coast. Ho adds that his authority was not obtained, and definite instructions have now been issued that under no circumstances is coal to be delivered by the State Coal Department on Saturday afternoons, or during any other time outside of the ordinary workiug hours fixed for coal dealers.