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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 295, 6 May 1913, Page 4

THE HALF-HOLIDAY. Both Auckland and Christchurch have decided in favor of Saturday as the halfholiday, and the .Saturday half-holiday movement has received a great fillip in consequence. -. Christchurch was very emphatic in its preference, there being a two-to-one vote in favor of the change.

Auckland did not express itself quite bo strongly, the majority there in favor of Saturday being; some 1800. For some time past a considerable number of shops in all the cities have been closing on Saturday afternoons of their own accord. In Auckland, for instance, a number of important retail establishments thus closing have been steadily increasing, so that the public have been slowly educated to the observance of Saturday afternoon as the half-holiday, and the task of bringing the whole city into line has not been so difficult as otherwise it might have been. And so with Wellington and Christchurch. The big cities are in a somewhat different position from towns like those in Taranaki. The cities, by their preponderating population, can give, the country districts a lead, if not dictate to them in a matter of this kind, and they can choose with impunity whatever afternoon they desire as the holiday. In Taranaki Saturday has always been the country people's day, and it may not be desirable to change nor easy to break old custom down. We will readily agree that Saturday is the most suitable day for holding the half-holiday, but unless there is unanimity on the point throughout the Tara.naki towns it would be a mistake to attempt the change. Every town is jealous of the other, and the recent polls at Hawera and Inglewood clearly showed that mutual confidence will have to take the place of the present mistrust before the towns will agree to a change. Whether Saturday is to be the future halfholiday or not, there is no doubt that an effort should be made next year to bring about some uniformity in Taranaki. From New Plymouth to Stratford the towns as a whole observe Thursday; Eltham, Hawera, Paten and the smaller townships observe Wednesday. In New Plymouth most of the professional people, with the banks, observe Saturday. Thus we have three half-holidays observed in a comparatively

small place like Taranaki. This lack of uniformity operates against the interests of the province, and an organised effort should be made in good time next year to bring the towns into line on the question, be it Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday. All the interests affected should be consulted before the polling day. For many years past pressure has been brought upon the Legislature to declare Saturday the half-holi-day for the whole of the Dominion. Up to now the Governments have shrunk from making the Saturday halfholiday general, preferring to allow the towns to settle the question for themselves at the poll. If the experiment succeeds in Auckland and Christchurcu, there is no doubt the other larger centres will follow suit. But, as we havo said, conditions are somewhat different in the country towns from those in the cities, and the difficulties of the former should be fully considered before the people are asked to vote upon a change.