SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1921, Page 5

SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY.

THE CHANGE OVER. POPULARISING FRIDAY 1 . The problem of what means should be used to popularise Friday as the market day in New Plymouth, and the questions of inauguration of the Saturday half-holiday and adoption of a uniform closing hour, were put before R meeting which was held last night at the instance of the New Plymouth Rnte- , payers’ Association. The subject provoked a good deal of discussion, and while those present were whole-heart-edly in favor of a campaign to “boost” Friday as a shopping day, there was a difference of opinion as to the hour at which business premises should shut down on Saturday.

Mr. C. Carter, who presided, remarked that the carrying of Saturday as the half-holiday marked a decided change as far as the business activity of New Plymouth was concerned. After the long period it had been recognised as the market day, they would have to adapt themselves to new conditions, and should endeavor to see that the change to Friday was made with as little friction as possible. It was quite evident the townspeople had shown themselves in favor of the change, and he hoped they would make it suit those outside who had previously come in on Saturdays to do their shopping. The chairman emphasised the lieed for popularising Friday, and said it was better to organise and make it a success than standing at -the street corners grumbling. The movement was not confined to shopkeepers, and he wanted everyone to feel tfiat they had a part in making the change a success. He proceeded to outline a number of suggestions that had been made in regard to Friday shopping, and these included the offering of special bargains to the public on the day mentioned, and exclusively for Friday shoppers. Special displays might also be made m the windows, and it had been proposed that an endeavor be made to institute matinees at the picture theatres on Fridays. A demonstration could be made on the first occasion Friday was observed as a late night, and probably the assistance of the band and pierrots could be obtained. The question of securing improved train facilities should also be taken up, as the present morning train arriving at 10.48 was too late. The people of the town could combine with the Chamber of i Commerce in asking for a better serI vice to suit market day. CLOSING HOURS.

Regarding the uniformity of closing hours, Mr. Carter pointed out that the Government buildings, banks, solicitors, and merchants all closed at 12 o'clock, and under awards some of the trades were compelled to close at this hour; he hoped all would agree on 12 o’clock. The possibility of some, trades keeping their premises open till one o’clock had been mentioned. Mr. P. J. H. White supported the chairman’s views, and advocated uniformity of advertising so far as the town was concerned. It would be necessary, he said, to make some vory definite plans regarding the popularising of Friday. The speaker communicated to the meeting a resolution passed by the New Plymouth branch of the Drapers’ and Clothiers’ Association in favor of asking the Minister to fix the change of holiday to come into force in the second week in June, as in the first week there was a statutory holiday (Sovereign’s Birthday) on the Friday: Mr. J. McLeod said it was essential in achieving unanimity that a uniform closing hour should be adopted. Most of the factories closed down at 12. and the grocers, by an award, also had to observe this aa the closing hour. It had been suggested that the drapers were not going to close till one o’clock on Saturdays, hut it would be a distinct calamity if that attitude was taken up. Most towns clo-ed at 12 o'clock, and apparently it was the only reasonable hour.

In reply to the previous speaker, MrT. C. List said it would be a calamity to New Plymouth from a business point of view if the business places were t<x\ close at 12 o’clock. When in Wanganui and Hamilton recently he had made enquiries regarding the Saturday half-holiday, and he was perfectly satisfied that it was the right thing in New Plymouth, and in Taranaki, and felt sorry it was not carried throughout the province. In the towns mentioned, however, the closing hour on the half-day was one o’clock, and enquiries showed that half the business done on Saturday was done between 12 and one o’clock. Personally, he preferred 12 o’clock, but considering the interests of the town—which ought to be their aim—he thought they ought to make New Plymouth a mar- , ket town up till one o’clock on Saturdays. DATE OF THE CHANGE.

1 In regard to the date of operation 8 of the holiday, it was decided to comj munidate with the Minister for Labor asking that the change be made operative a fortnight either before or after - the first week in June, in order that a - holtiay on June 3 would not clash with 3 the opening of the Saturday holiday. 8 The meeting reverted to a discus- ? sion of the closing time, and Mr. White informed members that the drapers had ! decided to close at one o’clock. He . recalled that when the half-holiday - question came up four years ago re--3 tailers promised that they would close r at twelve o’clock on Thursday, and at 3 5.30 during the winter months, pro* ‘ vided the assistants took no part in the movement. Subsequently 5.30 had 1 been adopted for the whole of the year, r Quite a large amount of business was being lost, however, from twelve to one o’clock on the z half-day. The decision of the trade, he assured them, had not been come to through any desire J to act contrary to the Act, in opposition t to the general wishes. ' The chairman said it was evident t that no unanimity could be arrived at >, on this subject, and he thought it would j have to be left at this stage. ’ TRAIN SERVICES. Mr. List, speaking of the Friday enmi paign, said they could rely on the sups port of the local theatres to help in ■ .popularising Friday. The question of a 1 better railway service had been kept in ; view for some time by the Chamber of , Commerce, and had been the subject of ' meetings in the province, and of inter- . views with the General Manager of Ilaili ways. They had arrived at the stage . eon«e»t. ftther ©arte

naki was being obtained to make thi time of departure of the morning traixg from Hawera earlier than at also to the suggestion that the train leaving New Plymouth at ten minutes to twelve should revert to the old timfA namely ten minutes to one. These posals would be placed before the Gen* eral Manager, who would be making a visit to Taranaki in the near future. The following committee was set up to consider ways and means of popularising Friday shopping: Messrs. White, Carter, McNeill, Stainton, C. E. Bell-

ringer, McLeod, Abram, Lobb, Avery,' List, Bendall, Large, Lomas, Scanlan, Ambury and Broome. Members once more fell to the discussion of the closing hour. Mr. L. A. Nolan suggested that if the grocers could arrange it one o’clock should be adopted universally, at least for the first twelve months. The change would not be noticed so much by farmers if such a course was chosen.

Mr. C. E. Bellringer said he recognised from experience at Stratford that Saturday as a half-holiday w’as a vhry different proposition from Thursday; there was far more business done on Saturday morning than on Thursday morning, and the staffs of shops were kept very busy till one o’clock. The difference in closing hours, of course, might cause some dissatisfaction among the employees. Mr. J. McLeod pointed out that there were considerably more men whose holiday was governed by awards than those who were in shops, and the closing hour was not going to be universal unless it was twelve o’clock. He believed that otherwise it would cause dissatisfaction among employees. The employers made the blunder when they conceded twelve o’clock on the previous occasion. Mr. List suggested that the proper persons to vote on the question were representatives from the various lines of business, who should meet in conference and decide the matter.

In the ensuing discussion the chairman moved the adjournment till next Friday, when the sub-committee’s report is to be received.

The snbrcommittee afterwards met and set up committees io bring down reports upon advertising and popularising Friday as the shopping day, also to interview shopkeepers with a view to obtaining their support, financial and Otherwise.

It was decided to hold another general meeting on Tuesday evening of next week.