CHRISTMAS DAY AT THE FAIR.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12683, 22 December 1906, Page 10

CHRISTMAS DAY AT THE FAIR.

EXHIBITORS WANT A HOLIDAY OBSERVED.

The exhibitors as a body are strongly opposed to the decision which has been arrived at, contrary to the petition signed by 80 per cent, of their number, to open the Exhibition from half-past two on the afternoon of Christmas Day. representative of "The Press," who made enquiries yesterday, found the stall-holders divided into two classes—those who are strongly opposed to keeping open, forming the larger clas6, and those who would prefer to close down, but are ready, even though reluctant, to fall in with the majority if there is any money to be made. Even the proprietors of two of the principal restaurants, who fully expect to do good business, stated that they would much prefer for the Exhibition to be closed. Their conscientious scruples and desire of a holiday, however, will not keep them from competing with their rivals, since it is to be kept open. Those who took round the petition asking for a holiday on Christmas Day state that there were practically no refusals to Bign. Mr Niebolls, .the Victorian Commissioner, and Mr Scott, Commissioner for South Australia, both signed, and tho other Commissioners gave as their sole reason for not doing so that as State representatives they did not like to interfere in questions of Exhibition management. The prospect of receiving double pay does not in the least reconcile most of the stall attendants to working on Christmas Day, and for the most part Che amount of business expected is not any solatium to stallholders. After working day in, day out, for six days a week, from 10 a.m. till 10 p.m., all th«> holidays included, they feel that, quite apart from the sacred nature of th* festival, they require a holiday for rest. The following are some individual opinions: '•The place is not being kept open tor us but money for 'Wonderland,'" declared one exhibitor. 'This Exhibition ns so good that I am going to dear out after New Year altogether. Thej have got us here, and they do wha; they like with us. I have attended numbers of provincial Exhibitions, lasting for five or six weeks, in England, and they were always closed on Christmas Day. The Melbourne Exhibition of 1888-9 warn open in the afternoon, and there was' a sacred concert. Tbe

staU-bolders did no business, and many pf them who opened their stalls closed down again early in tlie afternoon."^ "Certainly we don't want to remain open," said another stall-bolder, and I shall not do so. Ido not think it w fair to those exhibitors who regard the day as sacred, and I doirt think the amount of business done will amount to_much. Theepeople who do cope wui mostly go to 'Wonderland.' " "I don't care one way or another', was an assistant's opinion. Tt is all ihe same to mc." Another a<ssistant said that she would not work, even if the alternative were dismissal. She did not think it was a fair thing. "I shall be here to do business," observed a man of the world. "I am ready to make money Sunday, Monday, >and any other day. I don't mind working all day long and all night long if there is money te be made. At the same time, I "don't think any business witf be done on Christmas Day, and I signed the petition in favour of closing. 'I .don't think anybody in the place likes it," declared one lady. Another was greatly opposed to working on such a sacred day. At the Paris Exhibition, an exhibitor who had a stall there stated, the English. Americans, and Germans all closed down their stalls on Christmas Day, while the representatives of other nations kept open. The St. Louis and Philadelphia Exhibitions' were both closed for the Christmas festival. This exhibitor's opinion was that at the Melbourne Exhibition of 1888-9 business was as good on Christmas Day as on any other day. At one of the tea rooms it was stated that six attendants out of eight had declined to work on (3hristma» Day; the fact of receiving double wages made no difference in the matter. "We have never worked on Christmas Day yet, and we don't intend te," one of the young ladies remarked. The view taken by the proprietors of. two sets of tea rooms has been already' given. Another proprietor stated that ho expected to make monepy, and if the attendants did not like it, there were plenty more to be had in answer to an advertisement. "You know the air in -there is simply shocking." observed a stall assstant, : in partial explanation of the fatigue _he felt after a <3ay's work.' Tho proprietress of this stall explaineed that she would be obliged to keep open, es she oould not lock up her knickknacks so that they would be safe from the public. She would have been very glad of a holiday, she stated, 6inoe working till 10 p.m. every night was not like business in the city, with only one lato night and a oomputeory halfholiday. The necessity of unpacking goods between sales made work much harder in the Exhibition than in a shop. In conclusion., it may be stated that all the largest eexhibitors wore opposed to remaining open, and for the most part will either close their stalls, or give their attendants a holiday. The sellers of curios, etc., who might expect to find their harvest in a holiday crowd, were tbe first to sign tlie petition, but for tbe most part they can hardly afford to close if their rivals are going to do business. ' The fact that shops in town will be compelled to observe the holiday is likely to give a quite unfair advantage to the Exhibition sellers. Mr H. aipman. of "The Pike," told the reporter that in America Chriestmas Day was one of the four principal sports and amusement days in the year, ,but he recognised a difference of public sentiment here, and would have been well pleased to close for the day and give his employees a holiday. As it was, he must compete against his rivals, but all his attendants, would be paid at double nates. Mr A. L. Baird, general manager for "Wonderland," stated that he saw no harm whatever in keeping open that S)rtio4 of the Exhibition on Christmas ay. In America such amusements were open every Sunday, and at Princesr Court. Melbourne, no complaint was made against them last •Christmas Day. There, was no horseplay or rowdyism, but sane, decorous amusement, and he saw nn more harm in sbootine the chute on Christmas Day than in whirling through the country in a motor-car. The exhibitors inside were under no injustice, for they could close down if they liked. If it were Good Friday and not Christmas Day ho would not believe in making it a' time for amusement, but the hol-tray undor discussion waa even from a religious point of view a day of joy. His men would" work shorter hours than* usual and would receive any additional 5a all round.