THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1920, Page 4

THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

NO CHANGE LIKELY NOW. POLL NECESSARY NEXT YEAR. The New Plymouth Borough solicitors have given a further opinion in regard to the Saturday half-holiday difficulty, and there appears to be no way of overcoming it except by means of a poll next year. The borough solicitors point out that by the proviso to section 11 of the "Shops and Offices Act" it is provided that if any day other than Saturday is appointed as the statutory closing-day, then any occupier is entitled to close his shop on Saturday in lieu of the day appointed, by giving to the Inspector of Factories notice in writing of his desire to do so. If all the occupiers combined to give sucli notice the practical result would he to make Saturday the weekly half-holiday, but it must be noted "that any occupier could apparently at any time revoke r'.uili notice. This would be unsatisfactory and it does not appear to be likely that any further steps Will be taken in the matter. ATTITUDE OF STRATFORD. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Jan. 28. i At a meeting of the Stratford Retailers' Association, held this morning, the following resolution was passed: "That this Association is prepared to observe the Saturday half-holiday only on condition that New Plymouth, Hawera and Eltham observe the same day." An effort is being made by those who favor Saturday to obtain signatures to a, petition, and it was reported this morning that the results were very satisfactory. ACTION AT HAWERA. A largely-attended meeting was held j at Hawera on Tuesday evening (reports the Star), to consider the half-holiday question, Mr. M. J. Lynskey presiding. The position at Hawera is much the same as at New Plymouth as regards the necessity of a poll to alter the day for the half-holiday, but the matter was discussed by those present as to whether a change from Wednesday to Saturday was desirable. A motion was proposed in favor of Wednesday by Mr. B. C. Bennett, who considered that to keep Hawera progressive the Wednesday half-holiday should be retained. Mr. Pratt, to test the feeling of the meeting, moved an amendment in favor of Saturday, and this was carried. It was then decided unanimously that a remit be sent to the Government, asking it to make a universal Saturday half-holiday throughout the Dominion; also that the Tradesmen's Association be re'eommended that, when a special holiday occurs in the week, the Saturday half-holiday be observed as usual.

It was suggested that an endeavor should be made to induce Eltham to fall in line with Hawera.

IS IT JEALOUSY? It is safe to say that a good deal of surprise, and not a little disappointment, has been felt throughout Taranaki as it haR gradually become evident that the local governing todies entrusted with the power of appointing the day to be the statutory weekly half-holiday have failed to combine, as it was expected and hoped that they would do, more especially as, in other matters, such_ as bylaws and wages, a desire for uniformity had been shown at the conferences lately held. It is true that no decision on the subject of the half-holiday had been attempted at these conferences, but so much had been said by the man in the street, asi well as by some of those In authority, that an agreement between the local bodies for one uniform day was confidently expected by quite a number. Now many expressions of disappointment are to be heard, and people are saying that each centre is jealous and suspicious of its' neighbor, is afraid that if A appoints Saturday for the day, its neighbors B and C may appoint Wednesday or Thursday, whichever was their former day, to which the community had been accustomed, with the hope of attracting trade to their own particular centre from beyond what may have been considered their legitimate trading area. In fact, it is thought and said that these centres are frightened one of the other, and, in their anxiety, are sacrificing the interests of their fellows for want of trust in one another. Surely in such a small community as ours it ought noj to be difficult to settle such a question as this. It is a very serious reflection on our capacity for organisation if such is the case, as well as a very strong suggestion of our narrowness of mind and want of faith in our fellow. But the electors of the aforesaid local bodies have it in their power to have the appointment made by those authorities altered by certain well denned proceedings, and if it be found that their representatives on those Councils and Boards cannot agree on the subject, then it is up to the electors to try to establish uniformity in spite of them, so, after all it is in the hands of those most interested, and if they desire a certain condition of things, and have not combination nor organisation enough to secure it, then it is time they set to work to acquire that combination and organisation, or own, straight out, that they do not deserve that which they say they desire. —Tahi Hereni. Inglewood 28-1-20.