THE HALF-HOLIDAY

Wairarapa Age, 23 February 1927, Page 6

THE HALF-HOLIDAY

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OFFERS NO LEAD. TOWN AND COUNTRY INTERESTS MAIL ORDER TRADE. ~ Almost the only question discus, sed by the Mastertun Chamber of Commerce at a brief meeting yesterday afternoen was that of the weekly half-holiday. The discussion was quite inconclusive. The all but unanimous opinion of members was that the Chamber was not called upon to give any lead in the matter. Mr. F. Norris, who Introduced the question, at first asked that it should bo discussed in committee, but no support was forthcoming for this proposal. The chairman (Mr. F. W. Temple) said he did not knots whether the matter had anything to do with the Chamber. A requisition that had gone before the Borough Council was signed by a sufficient number of people to ensure a poll on the half-holiday question, and ho did not see that they (the Chamber of Commerce) could do anything at all. He invited Mr. Norris, however, to “move something.’’ Mr. Norris said he could not do this, because he would have to move ‘ * either for or against,” and he was not going to do that. He thought, however, that the Chamber of Commerce should give a lead to the public. The chairman said he had not much sympathy with tl;e discussion, because ho did not think the matter had anything to do with the Chamber. EXCEEDINGLY CONTENTIOUS.

Mr. J. Caselberg observed that the half-holiday question was exceedingly contentious. Years ago, the Chamber had urged upon the Government through the member for the district that legislation should be passed to provide for a uniform half-holiday throughout New Zealand. A ll truly political” answer was received that there was legislation on the Statute Book which enabled every town to decide what day it preferred as the halfholiday. He supposed this was the answer they would ,get to-morrow. He did not think it would be in order for the Chamber of Commerce to give a lead on this question. There Was a division pA opinion. Those who favoured Saturday might bo in a majority, but this would not influence those who 'favoured Thursday. Personally he was strongly in favour of Saturday, but he thought the discussion a waste of

time. Mr. D. Smith jestingly suggested that Monday morning might do, but it was objected that this would conflict with, washing day. VOTES TOR COUNTRY PEOPLE? The chairman said it was a question whether country people should not have a voice in the determination of 'the half-holiday. Mr. C. C. Jackson: “We, as country representatives, are practically neutral ton this question, because we have no votes.’ 1 The chairman said that there were any number of towns in Now Zealand that were dependent, like Masterton, on the country, and the country people should have a say. Personally, he was in favour of the Saturday halfholiday, but if the country people wanted another day he would be quite prepared to give way to them. Mr. Jackson said that he thought the country people were in favour of Thursday instead of Saturday as the half-holiday, and if they had any say

in the matter, Mr. Norris might get some support. j The chairman said the country peo pie should appeal to Parliament. A member said that the country people had approached Parliament and had been told that they had nothing to do with the matter of the half-holiday. The chairman: “If the farmers went down, they would get a differentanswer.' ’ \ VOTING POWER. Mr. Casclberg said that a dicision really rested with employees, who outnumbered both fanners and town employers. Mr. Norris said that in his opinion there had been a great increase in mail order business with outside firms since the Saturday half-holiday was adopted iu Masterton. All counter trade in ■Masterton had suffered considerably. The time for bringing the lost business back to their town had perhaps gone by, but he thought it would bo a good thing if the Chamber gave a lead one way or the other. The chairman said ho was satisfied that mail order business had been going to Wellington for many years. Mr. Norris maintained that mail order business had increased since the alteration in the half-holiday. The chairman and Mr. Caselberg agreed in declaring this to be problematical. The discussion was not carried further. THE PETITION. BEFORE r I*HE BOROUGH COUNCIL. A petition praying that a poll be taken on the question of altering the half-holiday in Masterton to "Thursday was presented to the Borough Council last evening. The document was referred to the Town. Clerk, who was instructed to verify the signatures.