KAPONGA.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1922, Page 7

KAPONGA.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) A largely-attended meeting of the Kaponga Cbaniber of Commerce was held on Tuesday, 24th inst., presided over by Mr. P. W. Allen, chairman. The chairman, in explaining the reason for holding the meeting that evening, said that they were present to discuss the important question of the weekly half-holiday. At the previous meeting only twelve members were present, and the decision then reached to retain the Saturday half-holiday was in the nature of a bombshell to the rest qf the members. A petition in favor of Thursday closing was at once circulated, and, together with the minority resolution, was presented to the Town Board. That bcnly wisely referred the matter back for further consideration at the hands of the Chamber of Commerce. Continuing, Mr. Allen brought forward arguments in favor of a reversion to Thursday closing. He said that owing to the financial stringency many motor/cars would be kept in their sheds as'mfich as possible, so that Kaponga' should, get its legitimate share of the trade now. going to neighboring towns. When parents brought their children, into town on Saturday —the only day free —it was most inconvenient to find the shops closed.

Mr. Moss moved that a secret ball be taken without discussion.

Mr. Gibson said he would like to heai the arguments brought forward, and i convinced that the Saturday half holiday liad been detrimental to th< trade of the town he would vote foi Thursday. Mr. Old seconded Mr. Moss’ motion He thought that the previous motioi should stand.

The chai, man then put the motion that the matter be decided by secret ballot. This was lost.

Mr. A. O. Casey moved that the previous motion (in favor of Saturday) be rescinded, and that this meeting favors Thursday closing. This was seconded by Mr. A. Waugh. Mr. Betts said that the shopkeepers’ takings had fallen off during th J past year. He contended that this was merely the result of the general depression. If Thursday had been the holiday, things would have been worse instead of better.

Mr. A. Waugh had no doubt whatever that the change to Saturday had detrimentally affected his business. Mr. C. S. Hill strongly favored the change back to Thursday. Mr. R. Williams had found Saturday closing an absolute failure. Mr. A. V. Tait, as a farmer, spoke without hesitation in favor of Thursday. Saturday had always been the farmers’ day in town. Old customs died hard, and, though he was not personally concerned, he thought that, to break the monotony of the week’s work, Thursday was a far more suitable day than Saturday.

Mr. W. Harding said the facts presented had caused him to reconsider his decision in favor of Saturday. It had been pointed out to him that the crowds brought into town on the occasion of football and hockey matches had no opportunity of making odd purchases, afid so a considerable catch trade was lost. Again, most employees were paid at the week-end, and if the shops were open on Saturday purchases were made. Miss Pierce (H..}G. Carman) strongly favored the Thursday holiday. She had no hesitation in maintaining that, in spite of general depression, a reversion to Thursday holiday would show a decided improvement in business. Lister announced himself as a confirmed advocate for the Saturday halfholiday. Mr. McMillan proclaimed himself as an advocate for Saturday.

The motion was then put and carried by a majority of 16 to 10. Mr. Casty asked whether the chamber had kept in touch with the matter of linking up the surrounding district with Kaponga by telephone. He contended that the agitation should be continued until their efforts bore fruit. It was pointed out that the executive had the matter in hand, and that it had been temporarily held up on account of the shortage of instruments.