SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Waipa Post, Volume I, Issue 42, 8 September 1911, Page 3

SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR. SIR —Allow me to enter a protest against this retrograde movement. Te Awamutu is the centre of a farming district, and is entirely dependant on the farming community for its existence. How far may I ask are the interests of farmers and their employees being studied by the promoters of this'vagrant movement. Should this project — which is directly opposed to the views of nine-tenths of the people of this district —be put into'operation, it would entail untold inconvenience, to those upon whom we are dependent for the existence of Te Awamutu. It would mean splitting up the farmers’ week’s' work and disorganising work generally, and all for the convenience of a handful of tradespeople. We hear crys daily against the practice of sending out of the district for goods. Ir their convenience is not studied —if thenfeelings on matters pertaining to the town are not consulted —why should the farmer study us ? Wednesday as a half-holiday has rnet with the approval of years. It has suited the peculiar needs of Te Awamutu. It comes when it wouldn’t much matter if the shops were closed all day. Saturday is and has been for years the recognised farmers’ day. He can stay in town as long as he likes. No need to hurry, because the next day is a day of rest as far as it can apply to a farmer. Are the farmers and their employees to alter thenday for doing business for the convenience of the shopkeepers ? Are the shopkeepers in business willing to study the convenience of their customers or are the customers here merely for the convenience of the tradespeople ? Te Awamutu has many days and perhaps years of hard fighting ahead ere it can take its place as the progressive commercial, centre it* should be. Why not attend to many other matters of importance to the progress of the town ? Will the auctioneering firms reorganise their sale days for the convenience of the few business people here ? The local Saturday half-holiday is one question the universal another. One good (?) argument I heard was that the business men instead of having a disconnected day and a half during the week would have an uninterrupted spell of a day and a half in which time they could go shooting, gardening, play ping-pong, or indulge in such other pastimes to relieve the tension arising from the fast and strenuous exertions of hustle and bustle business in Te Awamutu. Perhaps some of the Saturday holiday advocates can give us some of their views on the question. —I am, etc., O. Heerdegen. (TO THE EDITOR.) SIR, —In your issue of • Ist inst. Mr Teasdale, as mover of the resolution favourable to the water scheme, was asked through your correspondence columns to contradict or confirm the (still) persistent rumour that he is now opposed to the proposal. He has not yet responded. Why ? This rumour is daily gaining ground, and the longer Mr T. remains siient the more harm the circulation of that rumour will do him. As mover of the resolution it is his duty to publicly clear up the point, so that ratepayers may know where they are and where he is. We must have Light. TO THE EDITOR. SIR, —So, those of us who dare to ask a pertinent question of a public man are (according to Subscriber) “Yapping mongrels.” “ Subscriber’s” ignorance of his mother tongue may be forgiven, but There is no excuse for, his illo/Jal abuse of those of your •corrlspon dents, who merely ask for fair, square, open dealing in public affairs. Well might the gentleman he (Subscriber) imagines he is defending, pray hard to be saved from his friends. Wobbler.