THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 April 1921, Page 5

THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

ARGUMENTS FOR SATURDAY A TARANAKI MOVEMENT. The half-holiday question was reviewed by Mr. J. McLeod at a meeting held last evening at the suggestion of the New Plymouth Ratepayers’ Association, in order that the various issues to be decided at next Wednesday’s poll might be explained. In opening, Mr. McLeod remarked, that in New Plymouth there was little argument on the topic on this occasion, which was in contrast to the previous experiences when Saturday was mooted. In bringing forward arguments in z favor of the proposed change, Mr. McLeod said Saturday was the day a man would choose if he had the control of his own holiday. The contention had been brought forward that business would bs affected, but there were the experiences in many towns in New Zealand which did not bear this out, and the same amount of business was to be done whatever day the shops closed. This was the first time all Taranaki had had the opportunity of voting on the proposal. The movement was a genuine one and was the only one which could bring about a universal holiday. It was not possible to bring about a universal half-holiday by adopting any other day. Mr. McLeod said he was supposed to be an advocate of Saturday more on behalf of sport than other interests. He believed it was better for a community to take its play together, and if they were wasting time it was better, economically, that all should be off work at the same period. Personally, he did not think legitimate sport was really wasting time, because it was essential to the welfare of the community. As regards sport he was more particularly interested in football. The Taranaki Rugby Union’s season would open on Saturday when there would be about 1000 players engaged. In drawing up the fixtures this year they had got no nominations from Wednesday or Thursday teams. It had been suggested that the town would lose business because the farmer would not be able to do his business in the usual shopping hours, but the experience now was that since the advent of the motor car the farmer did his business all through the week. There were certainly more country shopkeepers on some days, but he did not think that the bulk of the business by the farmers was now done on Saturdays, though many came into town it was more for holiday purposes. The farmers’ own concerns were closed on Saturday, an illustration of i this being the case of the Kaupokonui stores, which observed Saturday as the half-holiday, while the towns of Opunake, Manaia and Kaponga, which were dependent on country business, were closing on Saturday. The farmer would be as glad as anyone else of the opportunity afforded by Saturday for all to take their half-holiday together. Mr. McLeod quoted numbers of towns which closed on Saturday, and said that from Waverley to Wellington there wm only Marton which had the mid-week holiday, while from Wellington to Napier there was also only one exception to the Saturday rule. Towns such as Wanganui, Napier and Hamilton were very much of the same class as New Plymouth; these had all been observing Saturday for some time, and there was no suggestion of changing back. The Saturday half-holiday organisation had received a telegram from the Mayor and town clerk of Hamilton stating that the view held by the council (all of whom, were business men) was that the town had not suffered; that the people had adapted themselves to the change, and there would be no swinging back. Mr. McLeod expressed absolute confidence that the Saturday issue would be carried by a large majority in New Plymouth.

Mr. T. Blackhall said he did not think the question should be decided by a general vote, but by those who were most interested, namely the business people. He believed if Saturday was carried the Education Department would have to fix another day of the week as the school holiday, because it was only when the children were home that the mothers could go to town. In icply to the previous speaker. Mr. C. Carter said he believed that those people who used the shops should hava as much voice in the matter of the half day as the persons who were actually in business. He felt satisfied from past experience that the public would adapt themselves to any changes that were made. t Mr. C. E. Bellringer said he was one of those who opposed the Saturday proposal on the previous occasion but intended to support it at this poll with the idea of getting unanimity. Mr. C. H. Burgess said there was one portion of the community which had been overlooked by the speakers, namely the employees. His experience was that from their point of view Saturday was the best dav for a half-holiday. Mr. W. IL Fitzpatrick said there needbe no fear as to the carrying of the Saturday proposal in New Plymouth. lhe workers intended to vote for it to a man.