Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1910. OBSERVANCE OF CHRISTMAS DAY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10139, 9 December 1910, Page 4

Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1910. OBSERVANCE OF CHRISTMAS DAY.

Some doubt lias arisen as to the effect of" the Public Holidays Act (just passed) in enjoining that whenever Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, as happens this year, it shall be observed on the following day (Monday). On the one hand, 'it was contended that the intention of the Legislature was to preserve the secular character of the holiday; on the other, that the Acts which prescribe that Christmas Day shall be treated as a quasi-religious holiday remain in full operation. For instance, the Licensing Act governs the situation, and hotels must close. We understand that the Minister of Labour referred the point to the Attorney-General, who has given the following opinion : Section 2 of the Public Holidays Act says: "Where in any Act, etc., reference is made, inter alia, to Christinas Day, such reference shall, when that day falls on a Sunday, be deemed to be to the next succeeding Monday." The closing of hotels on Christmas Day is enforced by provision in an Act, (that is, by the Licensing Act, 1908), and in my opinion the Monday that is substituted for tha Sunday Christmas Day, as above

provided, must be observed as Christmas Day, and hotels must close.. As to newspapers, if they are prevented by Act from publishing on Christmas Day, they cannot so publish, but I do not think they are so prohibited. The Press of the Dominion, however, have agreed to suspend publication on Monday, the 26th inst.