THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1921, Page 5

THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

SUPPORTERS OF WEDNESDAY. MEETING IN HAWERA. Advocates of the Wednesday halfholiday met at the Borough Council chambers, Hawera, on Wednesday night, when there was a large attendance, including delegates from Stratford and Eltham. Mr. W. Gilbert presided, and explained that the meeting had been called to let the people know how vitally the question affected them. Mr. Wilkinson .(Eltham) said he hoped that all present would extend their influence so as to induce as many as possible to vote Wednesday. Hawera was probably one of the most thriving towns in the North Island, and that was an indication that they had been working along right lines in the past. Hawera could perhaps afford to lose some business, but Eltham could not. The Saturday half-holiday movement was started -by professional men, who would not be effected in the same way as the shopkeepers. If they closed their shops on one of the best business days of the week a blow would be struck at trade. There were things that the people must have and would buy in any circumstances, but there were other wants which would not be satisfied unless they were catered for. Saturday was the farmer’s market day. It was to him a holiday, and he looked forward to it as the day on which he could bring hi? wife and children to town. The Wednesday was originally chosen so that those engaged inside would be able to enjoy a break during the week and would be able to get outside. The argument in favor of Saturday now seemed to be that it would be advantageous to sport. The next thing that would be demanded would be a five-day week, which they already had in parts'of Australia. This would be nothing less than a calamity. This wa»> not a time to think of comfort and holidays; but hard work. He believed in a universal day, but he did not think, that day should be Saturday. It might be possible to have Wednesday or Thursday for a provincial half-holiday. That, however, could only be brought about by an amendment of the Shops and Offices Act, making Taranaki one district. In doing this they should see that every farmer and his wife had equal voting rights with those in the town. The position at Stratford was reviewed by Mr. Rawles, who criticised the action of the Mayor (Mr. McMillan) in bringing about so drastic a change by his casting vote. He said they were missing customers they had been in the habit of seeing, and some of the wayback farmers grumbled because of the inconvenience. Some of them thought at first that the business people were responsible for the change. . .Mr. Francis, of Tokaora School, said Saturday closing was against the interests of teachers and pupils. Mr. Mclnnes (Stratford) contended that the mid-week half-holiday was necessary to clean minds and bodies. With the mid-week holiday they had produced in New Zealand a champion oarsman, a champion rifle shot, champion footballers and a champion tennis player. Saturday as a. sports day was not going to help children in their journey through life and was' going to detract from the more serious things in life. The thing that kept a boy or girl straight was the fact that they had to meet their mothers at night. With Saturday as the holiday they could travel to further centres and were more likely to forget themselves. He did not want to say anything that would stop legitimate sport, but those who were taking an interest in the Saturday half-holiday were assisting in putting a check on the more serious things of life, and there were more serious things in life than money getting. There were several other speakers, and the meeting finally carried a resolution declaring itself absolutely in favor of Wednesday and pledging all possible support to retain it.