SATURDAY HALFHOLIDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 179, 29 July 1903, Page 8

SATURDAY HALFHOLIDAY.

MEETING- OF ASSISTANTS.

A meeting of shop assistants interested in the Saturday half-holiday movement was held last night at the V.M.C.A. Rooms, and was very largely attended. Mr J. McKinley was voted to the chair, and brieiiy explained the objects of the meeting, and said only shop assistants were entitled to speak. A letter was read from Mr Crespin, President of the Grocers 5 Union, apologising for not being able to attend, and expressing full sympathy with the movement. Mr George Court also wrote expressing his belief in one general compulsory halfrholiday on Saturday. He expressed the opinion that the suburbs were suffering owing to people going to town to shop on Wednesday afternoons.

Mr S. Gray, secretary to the D.S.C., moved the first resolution: —"That this meeting respectfully ask the Government to proceed with the resolution making Saturday a compulsory halfholiday for the following reasons: — J 1. That it is already observed by a very largo majority of the community. 2. That as banking, postal, shipping and wholesale businesses are all closed on Saturdays, the observance of different days by a different trade must result in inconvenience and loss to all. 3. That the Saturday holiday interferes less than any other day with the continuity of work. 4. That, coming immediately before Sunday, it is a greater boon I than any other day. 5. That Sunday is j likely to be more rationally enjoyed by I those who have not been working uirtil 10 o'clock or past on Saturdays." Mr Gray said his own feeling was that he would rather have one Saturday in three, than Wednesday every week. (Applause.) Why should not shop assistants enjoy the boon already possessed by so many other workers? People who worked late on Saturday were not in a mood to enjoy Sunday. In fact, many people now spent half Sunday in bed. Some must 'work on Saturday afternoon for the benefit of others, biit surely they should move in the direction of limiting that number as much as possible. They heard a good deal of the "freedom of the subject." It was also used when the American slaveowner claimed the liberty to wallop his own nigger. The fact was that a number of people who enjoyed their holiday on Saturday afternoon liked to spend the evening shopping. He did not think trade would be curtailed, nor would the public generally suffer inconvenience when thoy got used to not shopping after Saturday at noon. New Zealand was a much favoured country, and shop assistant.'; should contend for a more rational enjoyment of life. Men would j work better the rest of the week if they j hud their Saturday afternoon off from work.

Mr Ilampson. secretary for Smeeton's Limited, seconded the motion. He expressed entire sympathy with the movement, and stated his father was one of the first in Liverpool to shut on Saturday afternoon. It split up families for some to have Wednesday and others Saturday afternoon for their holiday. He was confident that in a year's time the masters would be as much pleased with the Saturday afternoon half-Holiday as the men themselves. Tie regretted the opposition from Newton, because some of the mastern there, when assistants, advocated the Saturday half-holiday themselves. It was said that the public had not asked for the shops to be closed on Saturday afternoon, but he contended it was the assistants who wanted it. and the public, who already had their Saturday afternoon off. lie believed suburban storekeepers would not suffer if all shops closed on the same afternoon and evening. He was sorry that at the meeting in Karangahape-road one speaker said that if there was a general Saturday half-holiday it would mean more money spent on racing , and drinkin?, but there would be less money to be spent in the tradesmen's shops. That was a libel and a slur upon the assistants of Auckland. (Applause.) He would like to see the Government so a little further in the matter, and also give the publicans on Saturday afternoon and evening. (Cheers.)

The motion was adopted unanimously. Mr J. Dickson moved. "That a copy of the above resolution be forwarded to the Premier the Auckland members of Parliament."

Mr Brooks seconded the resohttion, and in doing so congratulated the conveners upon the large attendance that night. He said in New South Wales the great bulk of shopkeepers in Sydney were coming into line all right. He hoped that every effort would be made throughout New. Zealand to get this measure carried. He claimed that assistants were entitled to some consideration in this matter. He hoped they would not relax their efforts after merely carrying the resolutionsThe Chairman said he got an anonymous letter that afternoon, making a scurrilous attack upon Mr Dickson and himself, but it did not trouble him, for of course the writer of an anonymous letter was beneath contempt. (Applause.) Mr H. Dickson said he was one of the first movers in 1885 for the Saturday afternoon off. That was the only day fit for a universal half-holiday. They should ask employees throughout the colony to hold similar meetings. The motion was adopted unanimously. Mr Woodhall moved that the following deputation be appointed to wait upon the Trade!" and Labour Council to ask its assistance for the Saturday halfholiday movement. Messrs Chappell, Woodhall. Brown, Hampson and Matthews. The mover advocated perfect unity amongst all assistants. He waa quite sure they would get the support of the Trades' and Labour Council. They should also secure the people's support by a house-to-house canvass. They must not leave it to a small committee, but all work with a will until success was attained. This was seconded by Mr Matthews, and agreed to. Mr George Court, junior, moved that a committee be appointed to raise funds for the purpose of sending two delegates to Wellington to give evidence before the Labour Bills Committee. This was seconded by Mr Brown and agreed toThe Chairman said that meant raising £55, and a committee would be required for that purpose. The chairman, and the movers and seconders of the four - resolutions were appointed the committee, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the oonvenera and to the chairman.