WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13332, 26 January 1909, Page 7

WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

At a special meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council held last night, Thursday was fixed as the weekly halifholiday. The Mayor remarked that at tho next municipal election the people would bo eiblo to vote directly upon the question.

Tho Wellington Shopkeepers' Association passed a resolution yesterday recommending that Wednesday be continued as the weekly half-holiday. Strong objection waa taken, (says a Press Association message) to the effort that is being- made by the Trades and Labour Council to have the day changed to Saturday. It was stated that many of the people who have signed a petition for tbe Saturday half-holiday are not electors, and that, moreover, tho shop assistants do not desire a change. A meeting in connection with the Saturday half-holiday movement was held in tlie Alexandra Hall last evening. There was an attendance of about seventy, Mr H. G. Ell, M.P., presiding. It was decided to form a Saturday Half-holiday Association, and- the officers and committee were elected. Tho subscriptions were fixed 1 at 2s Cd per annum for male ni_i_ber_ and la for ladies and juveniles. In c-uinect-on with the Saturday halfholiday movement, it does not seem to be generally known that even in the event of Saturday beinig adopted in the city as the result of a po_t, thero are certain businesses where its application will not be compulsory. Section 18 of tho Shops and Offices Act, 1908 (eo__o_d__ed) states tihat' in the case of any shop wherein is carried on the business of a Initchor, a hairdresser, a tobacconist, or a photographer, tho occupier n_iy, in the event of Saturday being appointed' 'as the statutory closing day in the district, close Ins shop on the afternoon of some other working day than Saturday, as he thinks trt, provided that he lodges with the Inspector during January in each year or within one month of when the shop is hrst opened for business, notice c_? the day on which ho intends to close in lieu of Saturdttv.