THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1921, Page 5

THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

ATTITUDE OF FARMERS’ PROVINCIAL DAY FAVORED. / A deputation from the Hawera Wednesday Half-hoi.day Association waited on the meeting ox tlxe Taranaki |’rovincial Executive of the J'awkers’ Union at Hawera on Thursday, The chairman (Mr. Dunn) said |hat at the previous meeting of the executive a resolution had been passed to the effect that local -bianches.be asked to express their views on the question,-but only three replies had been receded, fyhe Mangatoki branch had replied stating that it suited them to have the haif-boliday in the middle of Jhe week-; the Auroa branch favored Wednesday, and the Otakeho branch had taken no action in the matter. * Mr. Bone, on behalf of the deputation, said that 95 per cent of the Hawera re« tail era were in favor of retaining Wednesday as the half-holiday. He knew, the deputation coxild not ask for thq votes of the unless they jxaß? seseed property in the town, but they did ask for the moral support of the farmers and that they should do their best to impress on the people the necess sity for retaining the present Wedn€»-< day half-holiday. Hawera was one of the most prosperous towns in the Dominion, and the association did not wish to jeopardise that position through a change being made in the haJf-holiday a He said that Masterton had had only a few weeks of the Saturday half-holt day, but the change had been quhW fatal to the business of the town. Thej recognised that business might find its level in time, but in Hawera they couM not afford to run the risk. It seemed to him that the only argument In favoj of Saturday was that it would sport, but the shops had always assist* ed sport in the past. Wednesday half-holiday suited Hawera splondidlyf and if they changed to Saturday it would tend to divide the business amongst other towns. That might be a selfish view but they had to consider what was best for the towix. SUITING THE FARMED. Mr. Gilbert said that CO per cent, of the business in Hawera came from ths farmers, and there was a possibility that if Saturday was carried the fan mers might decide to stay away. They were out to suit the farmer and to try aud keep his business. It was unfortunate that the farmers who represented GO per cent of their customers had no vote on tMe matter, and he would like to see tlxe law amended so that their customers had a vote as well at their assistants. Mr. Sellar said he was quite satisfied frpm his retunxs that tlxe farmer pr» ferred to do his shopping on Saturdays Saturday was a very mice day for a holiday, but business must come before sport. Mr. Dunn asked the deputation to state their opinion about a Wednesday provincial half-holiday, as a big number of people wanted to see one day decided on throughout the province. He asked if the deputation had done anything to get the legal profession to adopt Wednesday for their half-holiday. Mr. Gilbert said that after the poll, if Wednesday was carried, he believed the legal profession would change back to that day. Mr. Dunn said that where he lived the store closed oxi Saturday afternoon, and in consequence they could not get their Saturday’s mail until Monday.

Mr. Gilbert said he understood arrangements could be made for the mail to be delivered on Saturday nights. Mr. Cleaver said that all the members of his branch of the union were in favor of Wednesday as the half-holiday.

Mr. Orr said that the school committees were absolutely opposed to Saturday as the day for the half-holiday, for the reason that if parents brought their children into the town they had to break into the school week. Mr. Juliaix said his district —Varea— closed on Saturday afternoon, and the change had been a curse to the district,, Mr. Washer said he lived in New Plymouth and it had been drummed into him that Saturday was the best day, and when he had been asked what he favored he had said Saturday. He had beexx brought up in Auckland, which had had Saturday half-holiday since left school and he could see nt> rbaaoxx why other town 4 codlJ not do the same as Auckland. He belibved things might bo disorganised for a time but they Would soon be righted. NO ACTION TAKEN. Mr. Gilbert replied that he understood opinion in New Plymouth was strong]} 7 in favor of Saturday, betause New Plymouth was likely to benefit if Saturday was carried. Mr. Sellar said that if a movement was started for a provincial Wednesday half-holiday, the association would work just as hard for that as for a local Wednesday half-holiday. The chairman suggested that the best course would be to take a vote over the whole province axxd settle the matter. Mr. Betts expressed the opinion that Saturday was wanted purely for sport, and when sport came before business, God help the country. The secretary, Mr. Buckeridge, said that Mr. Beits’ remark was hardly fair. Mint was desired was a universal day for everyone, bxxt at present the community was divided into two sections. It was/ better that they should have a universal day and the business men and professional meix have their holiday together. The only way this cfixild be done would be by one side giving way to the other. The present arrangement of having two half-holidays in a week caused inconvenience. Mr. Gilbert said he was satisfied that if a change was made the business lost on Saturdays would not be regained. Mr. Sage pointed out that it weuld be difficult to have a provincial Wednesday half-holiday, on account of the aj>rangement of the stock sales, as the stock sales were held in Eltham on Wednesday and Hawera on Thursday, He thought tlie union could assist theta in regard to this matter. The chairman agreed that this was a difficulty, but he womd like t» see onfr provincial half-holiday. Mr. Washers It etrikes me as being a very g.ood argument in favor of Saturday. Tlie deputation then withdrew and the executive decided to await further information from the branches before taking action,