SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8455, 4 June 1907, Page 3

SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY.

(To the Editor.) j Sir, —Realising the impossible position created by the Shop Assistants' Act, 1904, in permitting the Public Bodies, by delegation under the Act, to fix the weekly half-holi-day, and the Factories Act making it mandatory for factories to close on ! jaturday afternoon,supporters here in favour of necessary reform have inaugurated a Statutory Saturday Halfholiday Association to endeavour to secure legislation to give effect to their aims, viz., a. Statutory Halfholiday on Saturday throughout the colony, and to endeavour to enlist the co-operation of other centres in the colony towards forming a N.Z. Saturday Half-holiday Association. The following important factors support the arguments of those favouring this reform:—(l) That there can be no two opinions that the weekly half-holiday under existing circumstances must cease and that legislation must be enacted appointing one afternoon a week throughout the colony as the statutory half-holi-day. (2) That the existing laws compel factories to observe Saturday, and rightly too. (3) -That all departments of the Civil Civil Service, including Education and Banks, ob- _ serve Saturday. (4) That most of ' the large financial, wholesale, and many of the retail firms observe that day. (5) That no legislation would be entertained to compel the powerful agencies above referred to to observe other.than Saturday, therefore public opinion must bring the subsidiary interests into line with those of the greater. (6) That Saturday is certainly the ideal day. It is the end of the week, when relaxation from toil is, in many cases, essential. It causes no dislocation to trade, nor does it interfere with one's avocation as the mid-week half-holiday does. (7) That Saturday is beyond question the most unsuitable market day as business can be transacted only for a few hours in the forenoon, owing to the Civil Service Departments, banks and financial firms, and many of the professions observing that day. (8) That the keeping of two half-holidays in ~the one week by different sections of the community as at present is not only undemocratic, but seriously militates against the efficient training of our Volunteers. This is especially noticeable in the smaller towns, where, owing to factories closing on Saturdays and shops on Wednesdays or Saturdays, it is becoming difficult to get full musters for daylight parades and for shooting practices. The same argument applies to sports and athletics generally. (9) That where the halfholiday is held in the middle of the week, business -is more or less interfered with and disorganised twice a week. The time is very opportune to organise and forcibly drive home . the fact to the Members of the House ' that a very large majority of the I adult population of the colony are J supporters of and sympathisers with j the Saturday half-holiday movement, i If success is to be achieved it is essential that an active campaign should be promptly embarked upon I by all supporters throughout the colony, and an earnest appeal made to those in sympathy with the movement to organise without delay. It is suggested that Saturday Halfholiday Associations be started in every centre, that as many members as possible be enrolled, and that petitions to Pariament be circulated as widely as possible for signature, and any other means that may seem to supporters suitable, to endeavour to secure this absolutely necessary f-ji'to. It is the inevitable, therefore it must be pushed to the front and kept there till it be an accomplished fact. — am, etc.,

I. W. RAYMOND, Chairman Executive S.S.H.H. Association. I nvercargill