THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13374, 16 March 1909, Page 5

THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

j TO THE BDITOR OV "THJE PRESS." Sir, —None of your Thursday advocato seem to grasp the object for which I til-. , Saturday Half-holiday Association ■ was formed : but with your permission, I I will endeavour to make it clear. j First, wo desire to obtain one univer- | sai Dominion half-holiday, and that rfay to be Saturday, with, of course, reasonable exceptions. •Secondly, :be only way to effect this reform quickly is tv take a poli in all j the centres in April next, and ior this to bo fair and i-flecuial, every man and woman eligible, should be on the roU and record his or her vote either for or against. Thirdly, to follow the poll immediately with petitions to Parliament asking for a universal Dominion halt-holi-day,on similar lines to Queensland ana Melbourne. The figures recorded at the polls would aid our ..l.P.'s in expressing their opinion lor such a day. Fourthly, to point out that as Saturday is com inn, which no ordinary busi- !!•■>= man can deny, tor more than half our population enjoy it now, the absurdity of prolonging the agony, wasting time and money, engendering strife, to bolster up an unbusinesslike arrangement of two hall-day holidays in each and every week. Fifthly, to remind people that quite a number of the country towns are in favour of Saturday, out cannot reasonably be expected to dive the lead, hence they are waiting for the larger cities. Sixthly, to ; übmit Friday night as a late shopping if necessary ; then the shopkeeper can have live straight trading days with no interruption, no changing about, no inconvenience to town or country. Seventhly, the benefits from such a change will be numerous; it will strengthen O ur home life, cain greater uniformity in school attendance, help Sabbath observance, place all the members of our family on the same footing regarding their half-holiday. It will prove a stimulus to volunteering, help sport, nnd increase tram and railway traffic. In fr>.ct, it will bo the culminating point for unity and the upbuilding of our Dominion. Thanking yoi for your valuable space, —Yours, etc.,