The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1913. THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 78, 9 April 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1913. THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

It'is now practically assured tliat the petition for 'a Saturday half-holiday will he thrown out in Stratford, and the Mayor has expressed the opinion that ho is quite satisfied that it is informal. On the whole, it is just as well that this is so, because the past experience of other towns has proved that the Saturday half-holiday, under present local option conditions which prevail, is not in the best interests of the trade of a country town, especially one which serves largely as the market-place for a big community of farmers. When the Premier was in Hawera on .Saturday a deputation waited on him with regard to the half-holiday question, attention being directed to the generally unsatisfactory operation of the present Act, and pointing out that it was most undesirable that different towns in Taranaki should observe different half-holidays; such was apt to cause petty town jealousies, and might result very prejudicially to one town or the other. The deputation suggested that the Act lie amended, making the poll for the half-holiday question one for the whole Dominion; or, if that could not

1)0 clone, let it be a provincial poll with the Parliamentary franchise so that people living in the suburbs and farmers also would have the right of voting. In reply, Mr Massey admitted that the position was a very diflicult one. So far as the suggestion to make it a provincial poll was concerned, lie could imagine that that might very well suit Taranaki, and he was quite satisfied that the present system was too parochial. Taranaki would not bo too large for a provincial poll, and if the Parliamentary franchise were adopted also it would give everybody—both town and country—an opportunity of fixing a day for the whole district. He thought, that would be much more satisfactory than the present system. This much being conceded by Mr Massey wo trust ho will see that the Act is amended next session. Whatever is done should be in the direction of making the half-holiday universal and Parliament would save a lot of trouble for everybody if members faced the matter squarely and fixed the halfholiday for the whole of the Dominion. No one place could possibly take advantage of another if this were done. It is now stated that it is highly probable that the petition for the Saturday half-holiday will be thrown out in New Plymouth on the same grounds as that at Stratford,

viz., that among Die signatories on the petition are persons whoso names were not on the old roll. Eltham’s position is quite uncertain, and Jagiowood will probably remain as at present. So far as Hawera is concerned, a .statement has been made that there is no question of the sufficiency of the numbers who signed the petition in Hawera asking for a poll on the holiday question ; and that therefore the question of validity which has arisen elsewhere does not arise in Hawera. But one thing is made exceedingly plain: it is that under the present Act and its regulations no one quite knows where he is, and in the interests solely of sport and recreation, the balance of trade in any community is in constant danger of serious disturbance.