THE THURSDAY HALF HOLIDAY

Temuka Leader, Issue 2244, 22 August 1891, Page 2

THE THURSDAY HALF HOLIDAY

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, Will you kindly allow me a little spa.ce to answer your correspondent who calls himself “ Football,” who has com© forth with such delight to answer’ my letter re Thursday half holiday. Having read his letter through and through, in order, if possible, to find the merest trace of reason or anything to refute what I have said, I am compelled to put the paper down, as I can only come to one conclusion, and that is, he has said nothing. I certainly feel a little disappointed, because he quotes portions of my letter with evident delight, but he does not show the least trace of common sense or comprehension to deal with them. I certainly would advise him before he enters into print again to consult his mother or guardian on the point. She might be able to prevent him from making a fool of himself. He evidently, according to the tone of his letter, is chuckling to himself over,the extent of his scoffing and snuffing capabilities. He can scoff anybody up or snuff anybody out, with the least trouble, that interferes with him. In thinking of him in this aspect it has brought to my memory a few short pieces of poetry which I read in the Canterbury Times some seven or eight years ago—there is no need for us to squabble over a year or two. They were in the humorous column and the heading of Curious Epitaphs, and one of them runs thus:— Here lies Robert Gorden—

Mouth almighty, and teeth according; Stranger, tread lightly o’er this wonder, For if he opens his mouth you’re gone, by thunder 1

I would, therefore, advise “Football’s” friends to keep a watchful eye on him and be careful how they go about, because they are running a great risk of losing the number of their mess. Such is the tone of his letter. Now, sir, with your kind permission, I will try to be a little serious. I will be as brief as I possibly can. “Football,” as he goes on, says: “ Fancy one going for a picnic, one playing football or cricket.” Evidently he has only got one idea concerning stores, and that is, storekeeper's only employ just about one man and a-half and two or three girls. He says again: “ Then again in a country store where several hands are employed, each having his or her work to do, one is not always competent to take the work of another without inconvenience or loss to the employer.” Now, to hear him talk one would think I was advocating two weeks’ holiday in a month instead of two days. And what is the particular work he refers to ? Is it selling yards of shirting, reels of cotton, boxes of paper collars, buttons,. &c., or dressmaking, or tailoring ? As I have said I certainly feel a little disappointed at him not exhibiting more common sense, and if he is an average sample of the intelligent men we have round,this district, then God help the next generation. And as he has not brought forth any valid argument to combat my statements, I still maintain my position that it sometimes happens what is a blessing to one individual is not to another, and the Thursday halfholiday must be looked ait' from this point of view, and I repeat again—shop assistants would have more time to themselves if they had two whole days’ holiday in every month, in lieu of four half days, and he does not appear to know there are hundreds of people complaining about it. He arrives at the height of the ridiculous when he says : “ As he happens to know that I have been living in Geraldine for several months, where the half holiday has been established for the past two or three years,” and so on. This is the statement he starts off with. Does he imagine that, because a nuisance has been prevalent for a number of years, that is sufficient reason for it to be continued ? and has he not got brains enough to know that mere assertions prove nothing ? I know for a fact there are storekeepers and assistants who don’t believe in it because the time is too short, and I would like to remind Football that everybody has not got the football mania. I would not like, sir, for anyone to have the impression that I have a down on a game of football or footballers. On the contrary I like to see them, look at them, and see them enjoy themselves, but I always make it a rule and practice in life to look at both sides of every question and have things fair and square. He says I have studied my own convenience more than the benefit of shop assistants. I would like to know I how much he studies the convenience of ; the public. I will give him just two samples of what closed doors does for some people:—Here is a mother : one of her children has been suddenly taken ill, she comes or sends to the store for a bottle of pain killer, or something else, to relieve her little sufferer, but the stores being closed she will have to do without it and get on the best way she can. Another instance : Here is an individual going away by coach or rail as the case might be and wants to get something very particular, but it does not matter what he wants, he will have'to dp without it because it is Thursday afternoon. But I don’t want it |qr nothing, he might say, I will pay what you want. It does not matter, the storekeeper neither wants him or his money. Some of them have made such a pile they don’t know what to do with it. Now I ask, sir, is not this I taking away the liberty q| tfie subject in I every ‘ sense of the term ? For the half holiday to be thoroughly workable it should be enjoyed by everyone, that is, all business should be suspended entirely in every branch of trade. Although, sir, this is a slight divergence from the point at issue, yet It materially affects the principle, that is, wliaj; is wanted really, and it will have to come to it sooner or later, is for shops to be closed at one o’clock on Saturdays. It is hero where the trouble is. Saturday afternoon is the proper time for the half holiday. It is what should be enjoyed by all, and so long as the shops are kept open until late on Saturday evenings late shopping will be done. For them to be closed at one o’clock is the proper time. Of course there would be a great outcry about it, but the public would soon get used to it, but even in this there are two sides to it. ? I was conversing with several trades-1 people in a town not many miles from *

Geraldine, and one of them gave me his views in these words—“ When he was in town it was real enjoyment to take a walk down town to see the shops brilliantly lit up after the monotony of the workshop, which he had had for a whole week,” and there are thousands of people who go into town for no other end than spend their money, and have a yarn with any of their old chums they happen to meet. And to meet this difficulty, for such it is, and storekeepers, shopkeepers, and their assistants will do well to remember that whilst they are in shops on Saturday nights they are the source of a certain amount of gratification and enjoyment to some individuals, and thereby are public benefactors. When this Shop Hours Bill was under discussion I read the parliamentary news closely, and if I had been in the House and anywhere near the Hon. Mr Fish when he moved his clause in all probability he would have heard a whisper something akin to this: Before thisShop Hours Bill will become thoroughly workable it will have to be dismantled of everything that is arbitrary and unreasonable in the first place, and on a day and at a time whereon all inconvenience to the travelling and general public will be avoided in the second. There is no need for me to put it in here. No doubt your readers read it. I have no desire to dictate to those gentlemen, because they are. representatives of the people who sent them, and they are supposed to be gentlemen who have got brains and know how to use them. Football, no doubt, will be ready to ask, how is it that no one else has complained of it ? I will add, because, as far as my argument goes, there are so many people who are like him. Whoever he is he is evidently ashamed for the public to know him, but as I have got the impression, sir, lam getting too exhaustive in my remarks I must put my pen down. In conclusion I would like to remind Football that every subject that is worthy of discussion has its humorous as well as its serious aspect. Hoping, sir, I am not trespassing on your valuable space too much, I am, &c., W. Johnson. August 14,1891. •