SHOPS HALF-HOLIDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 217, 10 September 1904, Page 4

SHOPS HALF-HOLIDAY.

ANOTHER APPEAL TO THE PREMIER. A QUESTION FOR CUSTOMERS, (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)/ WELLINGTON, Friday. J A new point in regard to the questioa I of a universal Saturday half-holiday raised by a deputation of Wellington . and Newtown shopkeepers which waited i on the Premier this afternoon in, regard: to the Shops and Offices Bill. The point > was clearly put by Mr Knlay MoLeod.« They found, he said, that Saturday would not be a convenient day, that in fact 7 Saturday closing would mean a great loss. However, they did not oppose the . proposal that the people should be enabled to select the day jlhey preferred, what they did contend was that it was 3 unfair to compel grocers and drapers and so on to close while the hotel bars remained open. What they 4 wanted was a ; universal Saturday half-holiday on which all shops, without exception, would be • -1? closed. But they did not seeiwhy legiti- ' mate traders should be compelled to > close while hotelkeepera were allowed to ; remain open and take the trade which niiwlif i-n irn +« tliom

In the course of his reply the said he must admit that the deputation was going in the right direction to keep their shops open on Saturday. However, Parliament could not settle the: question. He had given it up as a hopeless task to ask Parliament to come to f a definite conclusion on the subject: but Parliament was quite prepared to leave I the responsibility to the public. When doubt that what was now suggested would be proposed. He would the . House a free hand, and he did not think they could ask him to do any more. As £♦ a of the Wednesday or T Saturday half-holiday, He did'think that , it chiefly concerned the customers, and WnSh £ Bettle Jt at the Rnally he suggested thafe,when the : matter was referred to the people those flu.n!!S W °uv d d ° tbeir to in-/, fluenee the public in their favour