THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 23, 26 January 1912, Page 2

THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION

AGITATION FOR WEDNESDAY. A DEPUTATION TO THE MAYOR. A special meeting of shopkeepers of the city and suburban boroughs was I'clJ this morning in the Wesley Hall, l.it-rtreet, to consider what steps t-lumld be taken to oppose the movement iur making (Saturday afternoon the com- ] u.Uory half-holiday. Mr. J. Kendell w.is appointed lu the chuir. and Mr. Hiri.rski was elected secretary of the u. .:;iig. There were about sixty representative shopkeepers present, including a few ladies. The meeting was solidly opposed to any change in the direction el making Saturday afternoon the universal half-holiday, and some very decided opinions were expressed in this connection. The matter of the halfholiday in the city and suburban lmn.iiphs for the next twelve months will be decided next Tuesday by a meeting of delegates from the local bodies concerned. It is generally recognised that there is a growing demand for a universal Saturday half-holiday, and the shopkeepers who met this morning realised that they have very little time to spare in which to impress their convictions on the delegates empowered to fix the day for- the next year. Mr. J. 11. Hannah voiced the sentiments of everyone present, when he said this morning: "We want the same measure of liberty as we enjoyed in the past. We don't want to interfere with the other side, although they want to interfere with us as advocates of an optional system with regard to the halfholiday." Mr. Hannah also declared that the advocates of the universal Saturday half-holiday were those who wished everything else to be subservient to amusement. It was an attempt by the big man to crush out the small man whose business depended very largely on his Saturday afternoon takings. (Applause). It was unanimously decided to prepare a monster petition of shopkeepers and of customers in favour of the Wednesday half-holiday, and a strong committee was formed to arrange for a systematic canvas of the town and suburban boroughs. During the meeting His Worship the Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) was communicated with, and asked to receive a deputation. Shortly after noon about forty shopkeepers trooped down to the Toy™ Hall, where they were received hy the Mayor in the Council Chamber. It was pointed out to the Mayor that the innovation of a compulsory Saturday half-holiday would entail very serious loss all round to the small shopkeepers. They assured His Worhip that, given time, they could present a petition in favour of Wednesday four times as large as any counter petition in favour of Saturday, Any business man must honestly admit, they insisted, that 50 per cent, of his week's takings came in on Saturday. They asked for an extension of time in order to collect signatures in support of their contentions. In answer to inquiries made by the Mayor, it was shown that the deputation comprised representative retail shopkeepers in Queen-street, a very large number from Karangahape-road, and others from various outlying parts of the city. Mr. Parr informed the deputation that it was very far from his wish to inflict injury on any section of the immunity. He must, however, at the same time, consider the interests of the greater number of people affected. He recognised that the onus lay on those who desired a change from the existing order of things to show that the change could be brought about without inflicting injury, and that the change would be in the interests of a very large section of the community. Not a very great deal of notice had been given by those who wished to bring in the universal Saturday half-holiday, and he was therefore very pleased to have had an opportunity to hear the other side. The matter would be discussed (by the delegates on Tuesday, and the opinions expressed that morning would carry weight. He was afraid that under the Act the conference of delegates could not be postponed, but he would be glad if those present with the deputation would send representatives to place their views before the conference. If he thought it would be in the interests of those concerned to do so, he would then endeavour to secure an adjournment of the conference, but he could not, of counse, pledge himself in any way. A very cordial vote of thanks to the Mayor for his courteous reception of the deputation was carried by acclamation.