THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13375, 17 March 1909, Page 7

THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

TO THF. EDITOR OF "THE PRESS." Sir, —As there can lie no justified fear of losing the now legal half-holi-day, and as the profits of tho tradespeople should be ns little interfered with as possible, I suggest that the Employers' Association invite shopkeepers to fill up voting pnpers. suitably marked to sort into trades, stating which half-tiny tho individual desires to keep as v closing time.— Yours, etc.. IMPARTIAL. TO THE EDITOR OP "THE rRESB." Sir.—As those affected by a change ill the halt-holiday have no doubt calculated (iv* losses or benefits they expect to receive, would it not be well if authorities on both sides gave us an idea of how the* weekly shop returns will Im* influenced by the alteration?— Yours, etc., TALUS. TO THK EDITOn OT "THE mESS." Sir.—l think Mr A. 11. Anderson's recent letter is distinctly harmful to the Saturday movement. The reasons in favour of the reform are quite amplo and obvious enough without the aid of any vapid poetical gush. The large firms that observe Saturday half-holiday in Wellington and Dunedin are quite satisfied with it, und show mi inclination for a change. Anthony Hordcii nnd Co.. and other lnrge shops in Sydney and Melbourne, also close on the second half of the seventh dnv; in fact, the Saturday week-end is tho recognised privilego of rest for tho worker all over the civilised world. At present, Thursday half-day- seems a mere break of an hour or two in tho week, while Saturday, with the Sunday to follow, would be nppreciated as a genuine holiday.

The volume of trade would not bo affected nor diverted in tho slightest. People will cut. drink, nnd dress just as much ; in fact, with tho increased facilities for getting the fresh nir of the country, the poor town workers' appetites would grow rapidly, with tho consequence of an increased consumption of solids. If the pcoplo will only give the Saturday half-holiday n trinj. they wil] find within two months, that 'everything will settle down without any 'inconvenience to anyone. I nm convinced the whole community will benefit by the chiiniie.—Yours, etc.. INTERESTED.

TO THE EDITOR OF "TIIE PRESS." •Sir. —Jn respect to tho half-holiday question, may I ask if there is any such thing left as the rights of men, and if there is, where docs Mr Anderson coma in, the man who wants tho birds to twitter to him on Saturday afternoons instead of Thursday? I presume he's a shoi> assistant, but have I or, any other the right to compel him to remain n slavo to that laborious callingP Can he not go and grub gorse or fill shinglo and thereby, if they choose to trill, listen to them all the live long tiny? I'm not sure that he'll take on the job, but supposing ho does, does he want all of us to go and enjoy our> selves at, the same occupation, or has he the right to compel us so to do? It will be admitted that shopkeepers, generally speaking, pay rent, and mostly a pretty heavy one, for tho shops they occupy. Now, have they any rights left when such shops shall bo closed? If not, will Mr Anderson tell us if the shopkeeper has tho right te compel him te pay tho rent instead of his paying it? You must givo if you. want te tako. The railroad man and the tram man would perhaps liko to hear the birds sing on Saturday afternoons ; nurses from hospitals would not object nor doctors, nor those attending, tho mentally sick. Can they all go? Poor shop assistant, one might imagine that you were the only afflicted-one irthe land.—Yours, etc., GEO. BARTY.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE TRESS." Sir.—'' A Member of tho Saturday Association " need hardly have become so concerned regarding tho alleged want of knowledge of the supporters of Thursday of the object for which his Association was formed. That object protrudes very prominently, and, put in a few words, is that the personal pleasure of the employee shall be of first importance, and that the ncccsßi-' tie 3of business and tho question whefiier great financial loss will not follow on any violent upsetting of present business arrangements, arc hardly worthy of serious consideration. Tho Association, he informs us, aims at a universal Saturday half-holiday, " with, of course, reasonable exceptions." Such, an ideal appears to mc, as a practical and experienced business man, to be chimerical and more likely to rcßult_ in widespread disaster than " tho uplifting : of our Dominion." Abb, community wo will progress by striving to meet the requirements of trade, and not by mon**j keying with recognised trade arrangements which in the past have proved equally convenient to both buyer and seller. If business could bo successfully j carried on on sentimental lines, I have ' no doubt that there would not be any general opposition to tho Association* aims; but retailers havo to make both ends meet, and I can assure "A Mrtnbes- of the Saturday Association" that that operation at present is by no moans an easy one. If retailers wore prepared to rush blindly into such a change as that proposed by tho Saturday Association, they would show a lack or business acumen that would soon" land them and those connected with them into " Queer street." The Saturrla/ Association is also desirous, it appears, of making Friday tho late night. \\eil, it seems to mc that if such a change be effected employers may just as well make up their minds to lot their workers off the whole of Saturday, fir 1 am sure that but little efficient w- i k will be got out of men on Saturday morning who hnvo been enjoying a '.ate night" on Friday. In short, then* is too much poetry and idealism id:out the advocates of tho Saturday hnl/-holidny, and too little commonBcnsc If they studied tho objections te the change, instead of the objects of the Saturday Association, they would cczse their striving after an impossible of things, nnd recognise that tho Thursday half-holiday 'suits almost evciylody concerned.—Yours, etc., •> * "RETAILER."

TO TTTE F.DITOn OF "TIIE PRESS." f_i_ ; ; 'Five Senses" in this morn*ing's issue takes mc to task for using tlo expression "Seven Senses," and asks if I know any person possessing so many I hope so. Might I suggest t"'*ot the missing senses are commonsi l.se and the sense of humour? Trustii:-; that Mr "Five Senses" will now give my letter due consideration. — Yours, NALD s BADGE R (Secretary, Thursday Half Holiday Committee). March 16.