THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 January 1921, Page 4

THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

POSITION IN STRATFORD. COUNCIL FAVOURS SATURDAY. (From Our Own Correspondent.y Stratford, Last Night. There is now very little doubt that Stratford will adopt the Saturday halfholiday and so give a lead to Taranaki. A “pricking of the card” discloses the interesting fact that six of the councillors have made up their minds to vote for Saturday at next Monday’s meeting of the council, and that the other four councillors are likely to follow the majority. One councillor is likely to be absent, however, but his absence will not alter the decision. The Mayor (Mr.-J. W. McMillan*), is a very strong advocate of the Saturday closing, and he was busy making inquiries into the question to-day. Enquiries have been made in Hawera, Eltham and New Plymouth as to what action will be taken in those towns, and the reply in all three cases is said to be: “If you set the lead we will follow you.” With this assurance that Stratford will not be alone in making the change, the Borough Council feel perfectly justified in giving a lead. The matter is already becoming controversial in Stratford, and it was very freely discussed all over the town to-day. The retailers talk about circulating a petition demanding a poll of the burgesses in the event of the council deciding on Saturday, but the poll could not be held until April, and the people would then have had about three months of the changed conditions. The shop assistants, with the idea of strengthening the council’s hands, have a petition in circulation at the present time asking that the change be made, while on the other hand the president of the Re~tailers’ Association has written to the council stating that the association is willing to support the Saturday halfholiday providing it is provincial, but otherwise they wish to retain the Thursday,