SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 48, 27 February 1915, Page 7

SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY

As some doubt has been expressed ns to the effect upon factories of the ■•esult of a poll on the holiday ques. ion it is desirable to explain the posi. ion. It seems that some of the factory employees fear that if the proposed poll results in favour of Thursday the factories will lose their Saturday half-holiday and will be compelled to observe Thursday. This is not correct. There are two statutes which regulate holidays, one for factories and one for shops and offices. By the factories Act Saturday is de. dared the holiday for all factories. This day is fixed without the intervention of the' local body or of the electors. By the Shop and Offices Act the holiday for shops and offices s settled in January of every year by the local body, which can appoint >ny day it thinks fit. The local body takes no risk and fixes the day usually observed. When, however, a wish is felt for a day different from that appointed, the electors may send a requisition to the local body, say a borough, requesting that the closingday be determined by a poll. If such ’■equisition is signed by one-tenth of the electors the council then takes a, poll on the same day as that fixed for the general .election of councillors. At such poll the choice of the day is decided by tlm votes of the majority even a majority of one. If such decision be in favour of Saturday, that would coincide with the day fixed for factories. If any other day be fixed, say Thursday, and the factory emnloyees should wish to change to Thursday they could as electors approach the council and ask for a poll of electors to be taken with a view to changing their closing day from Saturday to Thursday, but unless such a noil decides otherwise their closing day, Saturday, remains unchanged. The forthcoming poll in New Plymouth will therefore afford factory emnlovees the opportunity of voting for whichever day they nrefer, whether Saturday or Thursday.