THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 62, 18 March 1913, Page 4

THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

The half-holiday question is agitat ing the minds of half the citizens oi North Island towns. In Wellington owing to a petition which is beitg mainly circdlated by the Wellingt n Trades Council, a poll on the questioi is assured. Waverloy has recently changed to Saturday, and Wangamu Feilding, Inglewood, New Plymouth and Waitara are all endeavouring tf do likewise. Only ten per cent, a the electors are required to sign tin petition for a poll, and the Coanei must then grant the poll, which wcuh be taken at the same time as the ordinary election of councillors am* mayor. Though the petition mereh asks for a poll on the lialf-holidaj question, there is no secret made ol the fact that what all the petitioners want is a Saturday half-holiday. H Waitara the Retailers’ Association an almost unanimously in favour of i Saturday half-holiday, and many the business men are strongly advo eating the claims of Saturday. The? are waiting, however, for a lead froii New Plymouth. It is recognised fha a difficulty would bo created if Wai tara carried a Saturday proposal aw Now Plymouth did not. The farm difficulty, however, must obtain sd over the province. Mr James Me Lecd, who is the leading spirit i) this holiday question, w-jas in Stratfort to-day, endeavouring to arouse en thusiasm over the proposals. It ; among the footballers, the howlerthe tennis players, the golfers, cricket ers, swimmers, croquet players, am all athletes that his proposals wil be welcomed. The Stratford Beta'.! ers’ Association has long ago express ed its opinion on tlio Saturday hall holiday, and given >ts reasons. It ' not in favour of a Saturday half-hob day. At the same time there ar many gentlemen, who were promt nent in the universal half-holiday movement of a year or so ago, bu who will now be found setting thei faces against a poll being taken. I they were quite sure that the othet towns would carry a Saturday half holiday, however, none would wel come the poll more than they. While all this half-holiday business is occu pying people’s minds, the example sat by Melbourne is being quoted In the Victorian capital, where a hoi day falls on any day in the week ot’te than the usual statutory half-holidav it is transferred to the Monday fol lowing. Every Easter the busines premises close on the Thursday even ing and do not re-open until the Tue.‘ day following. Easter holidays an really worth while in •Melbourne!