THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1921, Page 6

THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

MEETING OF THURSDAY SUPPORTERS.

Mr. C. A. Wilkinson presided at a meeting of the Thursday Half-Holiday Association in the Eltham Town Hall on Friday last when _ the following delegates from Hawera were present, viz., Messrs. L. A. Bone, W. Gilbert, and *B. A. Sellar. There were also twelve representatives from the Stratford Thursday movement. The chairman, in welcoming the delegates, said that they were in for a nice little fight. He was convinced that Saturday was not a suitable day to close in Taranaki. The farmer was their customer and his interests should be studied. He thought in view of the i strenuous times we were passing ‘through we should go in for hard work £ftnd economy. Saturday closing would be* disastrous. The fight was just commencing as far ae the Thursday aupporters were concerned, and he was convinced that Thursday would be carried. There was no sound argument in favor ,of Saturday. Mr. Bone said the question was giving Hawera a great deal of thought. Some years ago they had rejected a change by 600 votes to 200, which he had hoped would have settled the question for all time as far as they were concerned. They, by organisation and literature, were leaving no stone unturned to stick to Wednesday. He questioned the right of persons of 21 years of age and without interefit in the town, of having a voice in this matter, which seriously affected their businesses. They must beware of their opponents’ arguments of a prcFvincial poll. By the way, why did not the Saturday people advocate Wednesday or Thursday as a provincial day? Mr. Rawles,- of Stratford, was the next speaker, and controverted the statement of the Stratford speakers at the recent Saturday meeting a Eltham. Mr. 'McDonald had stated that the opposition to Saturday capie from a few di'apers. The speaker produced a circular showing thaft 65 shopkeepers were in f*dyor of Thursday and only five against. He protested against Mr. Mcaction as Mayor of using his casting \vote in closing any business man’s against, his customers, a statement .strongly endorsed by the chairman (M.r. Wilkinson). Mr. J. W. Stubbs, of Eltham, said there was not S-an argument in favor of Saturday. He was convinced that the property owner’ would suffer. The farmer did his business on Saturday, and not on the stock* sales day. The shopkeeper should have self-determina-tion, and this abominable law by which a* man’s business might be wrecked should be taken from the Statute Book. Mr. Bennett (Hawera), after criticising Messrs. Hooker's and Burdekin’s statements in connection with a provincial poir, x stated that had the poll been taken a ,month ago Saturday would have beeit- carried, but thanks to the

ciation a great change had taken place, and he was convinced that 90 per cent of Hawera’s business people were now in favor of the mid-week holiday. He averred that the employer was just as keen a sport as the employee, and their shop hours were shorter than allowed by law. Had it been necessary 40 or 50 would have come from Hawera to that meeting. Mr. Carman (Eltham) spoke of the influencing of the silent vote. They were putting in some good work and were holding a large meeting in the Town Hall in a week’s time. His committee was prepared to reciprocal with Ha* wera and Stratford in propaganda work. Mr. Orr, of Stratford, took for his text “Majority Counts,” and dealt humorously and trenchantly viyth the Stratford’ speakers at Eltham recently. Mr, A. Poole and other speakers followed. after which a vote of thanks was passed to tbs visitors by acclamation