HALF HOLIDAY

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 11786, 2 August 1935, Page 3

HALF HOLIDAY

OPPOSITION TO UNIVERSAL DAY “As most of you there is a movement at present afoot in the Dominion for a universal half-holi-day,” stated Mr J. H. Bremner at the last meeting of the Wairarapa provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union at" Masterton, when opening discussion on his motion “that this executive protests against any interference with the existing rights of each district to select a halt-holiday best suited to local conditions.’’ Continuing, Mr Bremner said that although perhaps the matter was hot absolutely important in the Waira■rapa, he thought that the fanners should move in the matter. He said that if adopted, the movement would be against the primary producers, for one reason that it would make life in the cities more attractive. “There is already a definite drift to. the towns,” said Mr Bremner, “and _we do not want to accentuate that; movement." He pointed out that roughly speaking, the population percentages were 66 2-3 in the cities and towns, and 33 1-3 in the country districts. He believed that the proposal would deprive the farmers of their privilege of going to town for business purposes on Saturdays. This 'was especially the case with the dairy-farmer, and he was the man who needed every consideration to-day. ,' Mr Bremner said that there seemed to be a good deal of apathy as regards this matter among farmers in general, who. were inclined to look at the matter from a personal point of view rather than from a national outlook.' He felt that the Farmers’ Union should do something in the matter.

"I take it that at present we have the option of a day,” said the Chairman, Mr Hugh Morrison, to which Mr Bremner replied that that was the case, and he felt that It should remain so. Mr R. Farrow was of the opinion that a universal half-holiday on Saturday would not make any difference to farmers, «s banks, many offices, and, in particular, solicitors’ offices, observed a half-day on Saturday, and it would be very difficult to get them to open. After some further discussion the motion was carried by 17 rotes to 6.