HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 277, 15 April 1913, Page 8

HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

BOROUGH COUNCIL'S ACTION,

The Saturday half-holiday question was before the New Plymouth Borough Council last night. A report was submitted by the Town Clerk on the petition received by the Council for the taking of a poll in favour of Saturday. "The new roll," reported Mr. Bellringer, did not come into force until April 1 and consequently it was necessary that 10 per cent .of the electors whose names appear on the old rolls should sign the petition. This has not been done and consequently the petition is not in order. I recommend, therefore, that under the circumstances the petitioners be informed that the Council cannot accede to the prayer of the petition. In connection with this matter, I recommend that the following remit be Municipal Association: That section 17 of the Shops and Offices Act 1908, be amended to provide that electors signing the requisitions mentioned in this section shall be required to add their Christian names and addresses.' This is necessary to enable the local authority to determine with acwhether the person signing the requisition is actually the person whose name appears on the roll." The recommendation was given effect to, and on Cr. Jackson's initiative, it was also decided to ask the conference to approach the Government with a request to legislate in the direction of fixing a universal half-holiday for the whole Dominion.