HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9498, 23 April 1921, Page 5

HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Sir, — The half-holiday and the coming [ poll.- — The vote about to be taken car--1 ries more than ordinary responsibility, seeing that a smaller number decide what the greater number shall dor Hence it is void of true democratic principles that the town decides not only for itself but also the country which we shall have. In other words/ the electors of the Borough, Hampstead, and Tinwald out-vote the whole of the rest of the County. The halfholiday originated with the object of giving a rest to the workers m the middle of the week. Ask the men carrying grain how acceptable a break m the week is to them. Look up the petition and see the many names of shopkeepers who have not signed. They with very heavy burdens m the near future want all the trade they can get. Some people who make Saturday the market day will be driven to Geraldine. We want to encourage all the business we canj the Government wants the farmers to produce more, so why disturb trade? No harm can be done by two years' delay, when a poll can -still be taken. Times may be mor^ norm:. I then. Home life, will not benefit by the change. Many a husband and son come m on Saturday and stay over Sunday. They can still come, only the shops will be closed. The large mercantile firms who sign foi ihe change, are not touched by the workers. Some say it will help sport. Not every town could have held a gala and achieved the result we did on a recent Thursday. Conditions that apply to cities don't hold good for a rural country c tk£k before you leap.