The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1889. THE HALF-HOLIDAY MEETING THE HALF-HOLIDAY MEETING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue VII, 20 November 1889, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1889. THE HALF-HOLIDAY MEETING

THE HALF-HOLIDAY MEETING

The interest taken by tbe public generally m the weekly half-holiday i movement was satisfactorily shown by the large attendance at Monday's meeting and the unanimity of sentiment which prevailed. But though public meetings and platform s peeches are very good things m their way and very necessary as a means to an end, that end, viz, the firm and final establishment of the half holiday, can only be achieved by steady and persevering effort on the part of the promoters, and the firm and continued support of residents m both town and country. And m order to this we counsel the advocates of the movement to tske means to communicate with every household. They should get up a sensibly-worded appeal, get it printed, and send a copy to every home, asking that m order to assist m establishing the half-holiday, not that they should patro- >. nise those who close m preference to others —that m our opinion would lead to resentment and prove a great mistake, — but that everybody Bhould refrain from purchasing anything anywhere on Wednesday afternoons. If they do this, and the public will, even at a little inconvenience, steadily support them, then it will speedily be found by all shopkeepers that to open on Wednesday will be profitless, and the natural result of general closing will follow. As : regards the " machine extras '* difficulty during harvest-time, |that could be provided for by those who deal m such things closing up, but keeping one employee on the premises on Wednesday i afternoons, whose services could be obtained on ringing an emergency bell, just as hotels keep night porters who are rung up when people want admission at abnormal hours. In fact all the difficulties m the way of the half-holiday can be surmounted if the thing is gone about m the right way, and patience, perseverance and good temper will win the day m the long run.