THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 183, 2 August 1913, Page 9

THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

DEvorrronx>s dxixsoia, , RIVAL MEETHIGS HELD. .' ' A «JLL WANTED. ,'" *" Js afcifl going on at Dcwnport in connection wi Ui the halfholiday trouble. Aa already explained, Dcvonpozt was exempt from compulsory Saturday cloning until Takapana became a borough. The law provides that where the compulsory Saturday half-holiday is approved at tho poll, »U'boroughs within a certain area, r.hould he brought within its scope, Devonpor-t, being anorc than a mile iLwc.y—tlie sUpwlaied distance— from Northcote, managed to keep its shops open on Saturday, white all the other borough*, in.aad axcamd Auckland, with the exception of Oatilwiga and Otaliuhu, were compelled to clone. When Takapana became a.borough a .few-weeks ego, however, it served to link up Devonport and Northcote, and thn Devon-pert shopkeepers hsd to commence on Satarday last to observe -tbo Saturday baXfholiday. Apparently opinion is dividod amongst De.vonport people as t<i the new order of things, and petitions, signed, by* almost equal number*, have been sent to Wellington, both for and against tho-Salur-day dosing. This morning two deputations, i rcpTcscntntivo of the opposing factions, waited upon Mr, A. Harris, the member for the district. Tho first deputation was raprvßemtntive of those opposed to Saturday closing. They contended tbit Drorrport had not been fairly treated in tho matter. Saturday was the day on which Dovonport shops did most bumnes*, and was the ono day in tho week: on which mothers coald take their children shopping with fhrm. They regarded it as a further attempt to corjcttntratrt business in Queen Kfcreot, and complained that il was unfair that 8,000 people should be tied to a system upon which they had hod no voice in introducing. After the matter had been fully debated tbo following resolution was carried:— "That this meeting of Dcvonport business men desires that the Government should grant thn residents of Devonport and Taknpuna the opportunity of voting upon the half-holiday question, and that the Devoirpnrt Borongh Council bo instroaUd to take a poll as soon as possible." Subsequently the memlHsr for fbn district was waited upon by those favouring tlie Pattirday half-holiday. They pointed out that though the rival petitions went in with about an equal number of signatures, that favouring .Saturday could have been increased by 700 if Tnkapirna signatures had been attached. They urged that Saturday was the best day, but ultimately passed a - resolution bs follows: —"That this meet- , ing requests the Prime Minister to place machinery in motion whereby a poll may be taken when the Mayor and council- ; lors of Talcapnna aTO elected, and the poll be for the. combined district of Taltapnnn and Devonport."