SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1921, Page 4

SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY.

TO OPERATE IN STRATFORD, COUNCIL’S DECISION FINAL. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Last Night. The decision of the Stratford Borough Council fixing Saturday as the day of the weekly half-holiday is final, and the change will presumably take effect during the first week in March. This information is conveyed in a letter sent by the Minister of Labor (Sir William Berries) in reply to -a telegram sent by a local tradesman asking that Thursday be retained as the day of the half-holiday until a poll was held in April. The letter from the Minister is as follows: —“With further reference to your telegram of the 31st ultimo, in regard to the statutory closing day in the Borough of Stratford, I have to say that the decision of the Borough Council in the matter is final and that I am obliged under section 12 of the Shops and Offices Act, 1908, to appoint as the statutory closing day the day fixed by resolution of the council. I may add that if the shopkeepers consider that a majority of the electors are opposed te the day fixed in accordance with the decision of the Borough Council, they may, in accordance with section 17 of the Act, arrange for 10 pdr cent of the electors to requisition for a poll to be taken on the matter on the day fixed for the next general election of the members of the Borough Council. The day decided upon "by such a pof! will, notwithstanding the decision of the Borough Council, come into force on a day to be fixed by the Minister, being not later than, three months thereafter. No change in the day can be made afterwards, except by a further poll under section 17.” It is understood that a poll will be held on the question on the day of the municipal elections.