NEW PLYMOUTH'S HALF-HOLIDAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 26 April 1907, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH'S HALF-HOLIDAY.

A BOMBSHELL. Yesterday morning consternation was spread amongst the shopkeepers of New Plymouth liy tile report of a circular from the Labor Department notifying that the privilege of closing certain shops on Thursdays instead of Saturdays Has to be withdrawn. The circular stated: Notice is hereby given that fourteen days from date the provision of section 33, sub-section 2, of the Factories Act, will be enforced—that is, that the permission hitherto given to close your factory on the day set apart for the shops half-holiday is rescinded, ami your employees engaged in the factory coming under the provision of the said section must receive the half-holiday from one of the clock every Saturday.' I (rust you will see your way clear to fall into line with these requirements, so that no friction may ensue between yourself and the Department. The circular was signal:'".J. Mackav, Chief Inspector." It was dated at Wellington on April 21 (last Sunday). The effect of the order, if put into operation, would be disastrous. The real effect of the edict lies in the businesses which come under the definition of "factory," which includes hardware, shops in which repairs are carried out, bakehouses, butchers' shops in which sausage machines are used, and such like. 'These places of business, which already are bound under the Shops and Offices Acts to close on 'Thursday afternoons, are now asked to also close on Saturday. Naturally, the proposition spells almost ruin to a number of trades, whose principal volume of business is done, especially with country people, on Saturday afternoons. _ A conference of tradespeople was hastily summoned, and it was resolved that a deputation wait on the Hon. J. Carroll, Native Minister, who is at present in town. No time was lost, and a large deputation, representative of every trade in town, waited on the Minister' in the Criterion Hotel to ask his help in the matter. The Mayor, Mr. & Dockrill, said the circular proposed to upset an arrangement that had existed, in New I'lvmoiilh for many years. If the proposals were enforced business would be seriously hampered. It had hitherto been the custom of the Department to allow those shops that closed ouThursday to do business on Saturday. If that'arrangement were departed from serious inconvenience would result. Mr. 0. W. Sole, on behalf of the butchers, said most of the country people did their buying after one o'clock on Saturdays. Another objection to closing [on Saturday afternoons was that the meat that was killed on I'ridav had to be sold oil Saturday, as it would not keep in hot weather till Monday. The arrangement would also prove prejudicial to the pork and small goods butchers. A [ore trade was done on Saturday than during the rest of the week. Mr. A. Lealand pointed out that the bakers' difficulty related to the employers on delivery carts. The men in the bakehouse already got the Saturday half-holiday, lint it was impossible to deliver the whole of (he day's bread helore one o'clock.

Mr. J. C. Morey said Unit under da' proposals contained in the circular it would be necessary to give the dressmakers liolidiiys on both Thursdays and Saturdays. Mr H. Ford, for the saddlers, Mr ,| Abbott on behalf of the plumbers, and llr AV. Jcnkinson, for the coaehbuihlmg trade, said that fully twenty-live per cent of the repairing was done on .Saturdays. The business would he lo>t if the circular's proposals were enforced.

Mr C. E. Bellringer, on behalf of the hardware and painting businesses, said Saturday was recognised as the day for doing small repairs. Saturday ' had

liceu recognised as the holiday in Mew Plymouth for many years, and there would be great friction if a change Mere enforced.

Mr If. Coodacre, on behalf of the bootmakers, said ihore, was an overlapping of the Factories Act and the Shops Act. This should be pointed'out to the inspector. The late inspector had taken this fact into consociation and allowed the factories 1o keep open on Saturdays and close on Thursdays. The wholesale bootscllers at present closed on Saturdays; and it woinl be out of the question to force the retailers to close on that day. Mr Cock asked -.he Minister to consider whether the circular was legal, being dated Sunday.

Mr ,1. Hooker spoU- for the printers. Mr Sole, blacksmith, said practically Ule whole of the horsc-soeing trade was lone on Saturday.

'lSic Hon. ./. Carroll said ho could appreciate the effect of any departure train mi accustomed vale. ' Whatever might he the principle of Parliament's legislation, the objective was never intended to be tyrannical. (Applause). After expressing pleasure at the representative character and the unanimity' of the deputation, ho said, '•! do not know, myself, but there is a mistake somewhere |l!utt we Should allow |tho overlapping of one Act in respect to the oilier (o bring about these consequences, immediately this meeting disperses I shall make very pointed representation to the Government on this mutter. I shall also represent the fact that the various trades feel it—>\hey all feel the effects of this and they i (ill represent tile injury which must happen to them if this is enforced. J shall put in my testimony—the conclusion i have arrived at. I think it i< a hardship, It creates unnecessary friction." (Applause).