THE HOLIDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 14, 17 January 1895, Page 5

THE HOLIDAY.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—The arguments used at the meeting in the V.M.C.A. on Tuesday morning in favour of Wednesday half-holiday, quite seem to mo to melt into thin, very thin, air upon being closely looked into. For instance, take reason No. 1, to tho effect '* thab ib is most unjust to make some shops close on the busiest day in the week.'' Woll, grant Saturday is such a day, will it still be so when it is doclared half-holiday, and Friday is niado late night. Batkin, Smeeton and Co. seem to think that people who have been in the habit of buying on Saturday night will all continue to do so. Why should they? No reason whatever;' and would they ? Most emphatically they would not. As Mr Smeeton said, "It is difficult to make a connection, it is easy to lose one." Yes, Mr Smeeton, if you neglect it, very easy, but changing late night from Saturday to Friday is nob able to do it, ceteris ■paribus. On the otlier hand, Wednesday is the busier afternoon, with somo traders, even than Saturday; in fact, Saturday is the quietest in tho week with some. It seems to me thab advocates of Wednesday are extremely narrow-minded and short-sighted men ; they cannot see beyond, if so far as, their noso ends. Almost all the arguments used against Saturday also apply with equal force against Wednesday,'. In yours of last night some one says, "Saturday cannot be a success till the exemptions are removed." Would Wednesday be a success.-for the self-same reason ? I say no. Would it not be decidedly best to make Saturday the half-holiday, and that all sections of tho community combine in bringing solid pressure to bear on both Houses, so that all exemptions may be removed very early in next session. Factory girls do not. do their daylight shopping on Saturday afternoon, that being aboub bhe quietest afternoon in the week, oven in Karangahape Road. A great number of solid arguments in favour of Saturday have been named, and I would like to collect a number of them together. J. If Saturday is appointed men who go in for athletics would have Sunday whereon to rest before returning to business.^ 2. Families would nob be divided in their holidays. 3. Saturday afternoon in most, if nob all, trades is quietest in week. 4. All sports, cricket matches etc*, are held on Saturdays. 5. Closing midday Saturday gives assisbanbs and masters a chance of getting out of'town-and spending Saturday afternoon and Sunday in country or at seaside, which, I am sure, is needed by all workers in shops, especially in this warm, damp climate. 6. All factories, warehouses, mills and offices close on Saturdays.—l am, etc., J.\o. Hv. Phillips,