THE HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13741, 24 May 1910, Page 8

THE HOLIDAY QUESTION.

DISCUSSION BY CITY COUNCIL

The question of public holidays was briefly discussed at tho meeting of the City Council last night, when a circular letter was received from th© head>quarters of the Australian Patriotic Movement, asking the Council to celebrate Empire Day annually.

The Mayor said it was desirable that Empire Day shoidd be observed, and ho would move that, in tho opinion of the Council, the holding of Empire Day should be continued, and that the Government should bo asked to introduce legislation to give legal effect to tho proposal. The motion was seconded by Cr. Sorensen. -

Cr. Cooper considered that the matter should''be postponed until the Government's proposals regarding public holidays had been promulgated Cr. Sorensen said tbo; holidays at present were, too scattered. He considered that the holidays should be put closer together, so that the present confusion could be avoided.

Cr. Horsley heartily supported that suggestion. The men themselves did not like the scattered holidays.

Cr. Williams said the proposal would not suit the general body of business people in the city. Tbe Council should simply ask the Government to fix a day for Empire Say.

Cr. Thacker said that the holiday should bo either on,a Saturday or a Monday, so that the Worker could get out of town for a week-end.

Cr. Forrester objected to a Saturday holiday., which he said would involve an injustice to the butchers and bakers. -

Tho motion was put, as originally proposed, and carried.

Cr. Sorensen then moved that the Government should bo asked to fix Empire Day for-some public holiday not tho King's Birthday.

Tho motion, however, was not seconded.