THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1921, Page 4

THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

POSITION IN STRATFORD. RETAILERS APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Last Night. The half-holiday question still maintains supremacy as the subject of most discussion in Stratford and every day this week the public have been expressing their opinions freely on the matter. To-day a telegram, signed by Mr. C. E. James (president of the Retailers’ Association) and Mr. R. H. White (chairman of the Drapers’ Association), was sent to the Minister of Labor, stating that the Retailers’ Association and butchers, confectioners and other business people, were strongly opposed to the Saturday half-holiday unless it is provincial. The telegram was despatched, it is understood, because the signatories considered that such action was justified on account of the support given to the petition asking that the matter should be held over until a poll is held in April. OPINION IN HAWERA. MOVEMENT FOR. SATURDAY. A public meeting in the Council Chambers, Hawera, last night, in connection with the half-holiday question, was attended by about 120 persons. Mr. H. Burdekin presided. It was decided to form a Saturday Half-Holiday Association, with the aim of getting the half-day universal for the province. Mr. Burdekin was appointed chairman, and Mr. Hooker secretary, and a committee of nine was chosen. They will wait on the representative bodies in Eltham, Stratford and New Plymouth in furtherance of the movement. The meeting was enthusiastic throughout, and there is a strong feeling in Hawera in favor of Saturday. It was decided to prepare a requisition to the council asking that a poll be taken on the issue, as the present arrangement, which was the result of a poll, cannot be altered unless on a further vote by the burgesses.