THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 42, 13 November 1907, Page 3

THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

S' r i Have ,vou room to air a grievance from New Plymouth ? If so, I wish to refer to tho Factories Act Amendment Bill passed on Thursday last. A good many people have looked forward to this Bill, for it was to givo them the right wliero a factory and shop were combined to observe-the shop's statutory halfholiday in lieu ol" Saturday, and it is certain these peoplo will be disappointed, for the Bill still denies them the right, except in a few cases. A now sub-clause—a mean, tricky clause has been inserted, which makes this Bill inoperative except where the shop hands exceed the number in the factory. \V_hiit become of the promises made by the Minister to those who cnmplainocl and protested against tho compulsory Saturday halfholiday? Does ho consider he has' acted fairly and honestly to them ? Is it not giving with one hand and taking away again with the other ? All these peopio had a just grievance, and it was recognised as such by the Minister, or he would not have brought forward any amondmont to the Act. Why does; he now differentiate ? Take my own'-,case.' Because my employer has not got a largo shop with ten hands employed in it, is that a good reason why we nino in the factory shall not get our holiday on the day wo want it, and on the day our employer wants us to have it—namely, Thursday? Why should we bo punished for not having tho shop larger than the factory. In New Plymouth, as in other towns of similar or smaller size, tho shop's holiday is practically tho only holiday of the week. All tho.- most important football, hockey, cricket, tennis, etc., matches are played on that day. Thursday is "people's day" at the agricultural show; it is the biggest day in the band contest week; it is tho day chosen for every big public function; it is the day for picnics, etc. It is a hotter day than Saturday, for it makes a welcomo break in the weok's work. Then, too, a good many girls complain that, as there is nothing else to do on Saturday oxcept walk tho streets, they arc kept at home to do housework, and so really- got no holiday at all. Most of my fellow-em-ployees want Thursday holiday, so docs our employer, and there's no reason why we should not liavo it except Mr. Millar. Why should ho interfere? Why can't he mind his own business?' Even if thero were a hundred in tho factory to one in tho shop it is no concern of his so long as we get our holiday overy week, and aro perfectly satisfied with Thursday. I still hope that we shall get what wo asked for and what Mr. Millar promised us, because the granting of it means' no hardship to anybody, and tho refusal of it is a harassing and unwarranted interference with our liberty. But it is pitiable that anybody in Now Zealand should have to fight and battle as wo have to do in order to get common justico and fair play from our highlypaid law-makers. I challenge Mr. Millar to givo a clear, logical, and honest explanation of his attitudo oil this matter which could he considered satisfactory by any fair-minded person of average intelligence.—Yours, etc., ALFRED LEE. New Plymouth, November 9.