Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 1894. TOO MANY HOLIDAYS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4674, 20 March 1894, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 1894. TOO MANY HOLIDAYS.

BBOOMD. EDITION

It is depressing economical fact that about one day, in three, throughout the circling year, ut a whole or a par* tial public holiday in this progressive country, and we fearthat the plethora I of idle times is a factor in tnuchof the trouble and distress with which many [ people are afflioted,. All work and no [play is of course to be deprecated but on the other Iwiid 100 many compulsory play days muat impoverish a community, Colleotively tho holidays in New Zealand are a serious tax on commercial and industrial pursuits and must in the long ruq contract the earnings of the people. If we take the holidays individually we can say but liitla - against them, Wo have just celebrated St, Patrick's Day, and looking at the enthusiasm with which many of out fellow settlers regard this anniversary j remembering. the green sprigs that have adorned buttonholes and the emerald ties and ribbons which have also been, displayed, we have not a word to say 'against this holiday, Unfortunately when each other holiday comes round insuperable reasons appear why,one and all should be honoured and observed. We stand by out Good and Easter Mondays, we are loyal to our Queen and Prino'e of Wales' birthdays, we are true to our Arbour and Labour days, and we cherish out weekly half-holiday. But after each event the thought comes to many of so mooh time and money wasted, of so much business suspended and delayed. It is to the credit of the Colony that it oan... stand bo muob idle strain upon it but the time must come when the holiday mania will have to be curtailed, No doubt the shrewd business man, when h 9 wakes up in a morning, considers anxiously " is this day a holiday or a half-holiday, and if so how am I to arrango my business,". But the ordinary mortal, who lakes things for granted, goes down to his office and then perhaps calls at the bank to make some important arrangement only to find the bank door olpsed and a notice-in the window stating 'hat as it is St, John's Pay, or St. Jameß' Day, or All Fool's Day, the premises i are olosed. Once or twice a week business arrangements are wont to be blown up with a little holiday dynamite. Wp h»vp long been of opinion that bat for its holidays Ne? Zealand would be a tolerable country to live | in, If settlers generally were men of { business, they would put their feet I down on this holiday pest, but then settleisas a rule are not men of btisii ness, and for this reason all sorts of holidayaar'e invented and perpetuated, 1 It would lean enormous gain to the | wealth and prosperity of New.Zealand . if all rag-tag and bobtail holidays were abolished and compounded for by a fortnight's solid vacation being allotted once a year to every toiler. As it is, people get much' pore.than this' in short and unsatisfactory, , snatches which do them -very little good. !. ' . '