THE HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 29 March 1913, Page 5

THE HOLIDAY QUESTION.

DISCUSSED iBY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. TWO RiESOLUTIONS PASSED. Ino half-holiday question was introduced at tlie meeting of the Mas-ter-ton Chamber of Commerce yesterday by Ma- Alex. Henderson, who said that the matter was one which was of great- to the trading community. He considered that the Chamber should give a lead on the question. 'He had two resolutions, which, he moved, as follows: (1) ' That this Chamber is of - opinion that a poll on the question of the universal half-holiday should be taken throughout the Dominion on some fixed date other than the date of the municipal elections. It is considered that on such a far-reaching question a poll should be taken on the Parliamentary (franchise, and should include country as well as town voters; and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to other Chambers in the Dominion, amd to the member for the district." (2) "That in the opinion of this Chamber it is desirable that ■Easter Saturday he substituted for one of the existing statutory holidays, so that the tradesmen and workers of. the Dominion, would be afforded a reasonable break in the ordinary avocations of til© pear; and that a copy of this bo forwarded to the member for the district and ether Chambers in 1 lis'Dominion .asking further co-oper-ation in the matter." |Tn seconding the first resolution, Mir J. Brown stated that" he did not think the half-holiday question should be looked upon as a..parish one. He did not believe ira local experiments. The issue should, be a national one, and decided by the people as a whole. Tlie President tMr Daniel!) was opposed to further experimenting at present. Mr Henderson: j.'hat is just what we are trying to prevent. Mr R. Brown thought there were at present too many issues at the municipal elections. He thought the poll should be a national one. After further discussion ,the resolution was modified, and carried as f >Kow,s: "That- this Chamber is of opinion that a poll on the question of the universal half-holiday should' be taken, throughout the- Dominion ; and that a copy of this 'resolution be forwarded to other Chambers in the Dominion ,and to the member for the district." In regard to the second resolution, dealing with the Easter holidays, Mr Spain and others expressed the opinion, that the s initiative should be taken by the Labour Partv. It was eventually decided, "That the local labour organisation be asked if they would favour holding tlie Labour Day holiday on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Monday, and so secure a continuous holiday at Easter."