Rangitikei Advocate. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8962, 30 October 1907, Page 2

Rangitikei Advocate. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES

THE holiday question is becoming a perfect nuisance in this country. Wo are not referring to the fact that holidays are so numerous as seriously to interfero with work, but to the difficulty employers have in obtaining information as to when holidays must be taken and tho various rates of overtimo payable to employees who atre kept at work on those days. Tho arrangements for the observance of King's Birthday seem to have readied the maximum of absurdity. Falling as it does this year on Saturday, most shopkeepers ave desirous of observing it on tho following Monday, and Government gave a lead in this direction by stating that all Government offices—including in this case the Post Offices—would close on Monday, November 11th. As soon as shopkeepers had generally agreod that Monday was to be observed difficulties began to crop up. The In' spector of Factories at Eeilding hstfi notified, on information "received from headquarters, that factories must close on Saturday, though shops may keep open, and tho Wellington Shop Assistants' Association has informed the employers that if shops are kept open on Saturday double wages must be paid. Both employers and workers are anxious to take a holiday which shall both be universally observed and cause as little loss and inconvenience as possible, jet they are so tied up by absurd and carelessly drafted laws that the best intentions seem likely to be frustrated. It is surely time that'some definite rules were made so that it might be known beforehand when a holiday would occur, and people might be able to make arrangements in advance without any fear that they would subsequently be upset.