HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 43, 14 November 1907, Page 10

HOLIDAY QUESTION.

In connection with tho carnival week proposal, a return showing tho days observed as holidays by the banks was submitted at tho meeting of the Wellington Industrial Asso-, ciation held on Tuesday evening. Tho statutory holidays are as follows:—New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Monday, Whit Monuav, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, St. Patrick's Day (March 17), St. George's Day (April 23), St. Andrew's Day (November jO), King's Birthday (November 9), Princo of Wales's Birthday (June 3), Labour Day (second/ Wednesday in October). The special holidays observed (in addition to the foregoing) are January 2 (throughout the Dominion), January 22 (in Wellington Province), Easter Tiiesday and Empire Day (May 24). There has, ■ for years past, been a standing protest against the observation of Saints' days ns bank holidays, but up to the present Parliament has not moved to delete those days, but has rather added to the list of bank holidays, to the great inconvenience of commercial and tradespeople, and in spito of the formal protests' of Chambers of Commerce and other similar bodies throughout the country.

.(Br TELEGRAm—SrECIAIi CORRESPONDENT.) Auckland, November 13. The action of the Government in declaring Monday a Customs holiday, in celebration of the King's Birthday, appears to have occasioned no small amount of inconvenience as well as loss to the merchants of Auckland. Mr. Dacre mentioned tho matter at yesterday's meeting of the Harbour Board, and suggested that some action should bo taken in the matter. Tho chairman (Hon. E. Mitchelson) stated that the Board could not interfere. In proclaiming Monday as tho Customs holiday, the Government had done a great wrong to the shipping community. As one instance, ■ho mentioned the experience of tho Manuka, which commenced to unload on Saturday afternoon, and was not allowed to discharge later than 10 o'clock on Monday morning. The cargo was too large' to discharge within the time available, and, as a result, the vessel had to go on to Sydney with some perishable goods (potatoes) which were not unloaded. In addition, the Customs Department made a strong effort to stop tho traffic on the wharves. When the Customs officer saw carts and drays passing up and down on the wharf, ho wont to tho traffic mnnager to get tho latter to stop them. This tho traffic manager refused to do, on the ground that tho wharves were tho property of the Board, and the carts were only taking away freo goods landed some time previously* Mr. Heather thought the Board should take notice of the attempt on the part of tho Customs officer to interfere with (he Board's traffic manager. The Board should mark its displeasure at such action, even if it was only to lodge a protest with the Customs Departmont.Mr. Entrican agreed that a protest should be made, and moved that tho matter bo referred to tho committee for that purpose. A protest should bo made against the action of the Government in declaring mo holiday on other than the proper date. Another instance of the same kind had happened this year, and two holidays had been spoilt. It was unfortunate that perishable goode like potatoes had to be carried on to Sydney and back to Auckland, by which time thoy would be unsaleable, all through miserable red tapeism on tho part of tho Government, Mr. Basley seconded tho motion to refer tho question of holidays to tho committee, and tho Board approved. A member of the Employers' Association, when seen by a "Star" reporter this morning, stated that tho proposals emanating from tho Wellington body ns to holidays had not <io far camo before the Aucklond associ il ; n. The local employers felt very strongly, however, that thero was urgent need for some better arrangemont in the matter of allocating and observing public holidays. So far, the Auckland Employers' Association had devoted its efforts to impressing on tho Government the desirability of observing (ill nioveablo ) aidays on the Monday following their advent, and thoro is a general feeling amongst emnloyers that the Banks and Other Holidays Bill should be so amended ns to make this observance practicable. The proposal to incorporate all tho holidays in ono at the end of (he year has not hitherto been mooted in Auckland, but will probably come up for discussion at the next meeting of tho association.

Cdt telegraph—press association.) Auckland, November 13. Interviewed on the'subject of the aggregation of holidays, Mr. Brooks, President of the. Trades Labour Council, said the matter would bo threshed out at a meeting of that body. Personally, ho regarded tho proposal to bunch the holidays and suspend business at tho end of the year as impracticable. He also expressed tho opinion that tho workers did not want holidays gazetted*