THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1035, 26 January 1911, Page 3

THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

WEDNESDAY' APPROVED.. IN WELLINGTON AND BOKOTSGHS. Delegates from the city of Wellington mid neighbouring boroughs assembled in conference at the. Town" Hall" yesterday, to determine the day upon which the weekly half-holiday for shops should be observed during the ensuing year. The following delegates were present: Wellington-, tho Mayor (Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.1 , .), and Councillors Frost, Cohen, Trevor, and Thompson. Karori: Mr. C. I. Daseiit (Mayor). . Miramar: Mr. J. .Brodio (Mayor). Onslow: Mr. Lynnebery (Deputy-Mayor). JohnsonviHc": Mr. W. L. Thompson (chairman of Town Board). Mr. AVilford was voted to the chair. The Athletic Point of View. Councillor Trevor, in moving that Wednesday bo tho day of the half-holiday, said that he recognised that, if Saturday were chosen, a serious ■ disability would , be implicated on tho athletic section Jof the community as sufficient grounds were- not available to accommodate them all. ..Ho-therefore considered;it ■incumbent on the conference to select Wednesday. Personally the speaker favoured the Saturday half-holiday,.but until thev could accommodate all their athletes, they bad better divide the holidays so that one party could use the grounds on Saturday, and another on Wednesday. To further overcrowd the grounds at present would be positively dangerous. The Basin Reserve was. dangerous now every Saturday in its crowded state. It" was a wonder that people were not knocked on the head with balls flying.in all directions. > ■ "We Have Too Many Laws." Councillor Frost said he would support Wednesday on tho ground that to institute the Saturday, half-holiday would involve an undue interference with' individual liberty. This country had toe many. laws. "With all duo deference -to. your "Worship as a member., of Parliament" said the speaker, addressing Mr. Wilford, "you want one session to repeal, a..few of-them." -If-the Wednesday halfholiday were approved, Councillor l'rost concluded, anyone who wanted to close on Saturday could do so, but if they approved Saturday that excluded tho Wednesday, holiday altogether. . ■ . Mr. Brodie (Miramar) claimed that batlirday should bo'the universal half-holiday on the ground that its adoption would enable the people to'mako the best use oi tho weekly holiday. As • to , Councillor Trevor's remarks about recreation grounds there were .plenty of grounds in the suburbs, that would be available for use. on Saturday nftcrnoons Mr. Dasent (Karori) moved formally that Saturday be.the chy seated. 1 ersbnally he. favoured Wednesday,, but .he. was, acting under instructions tronv nis council. . : ' . ■■

,; Plea for the Shopkeepers. -* ' Councillor Cohen, as a"' business, man, supported, the Wednesday- half .holiday, As Councillor Fro St.had said, it hatuiday were decided , upon no other day could bo observed. It was all very well to stiy.that people would buy on some other day if they could not buy on fcaturdav, but everybody knew, that people trom outlying'districts: came into towivloihaketheir purchases on Saturday. Many shopkeepers" took more money on 11 than on ■ tho -other-" h'vo -days, ot the week on which their shops were open. Ihe institution .of the -Saturday halt-holiday, might'be good'for places like Hutt, but it would.ruin many small sliopkeepers'in Wellington". ' '- '~ :

U.niycrsal Saturday ,Maj Come , v Mr. Wilford stated "that biV vote 'would, be. cast for AVednesday. ~He .believed that, the 'Saturday half-holiday.would mmff "eventually, by the'authority, of Parliament, as a change'universal. througliouL the-Dominion.-There was no denying that an anomalous position arose from the observance.throughout, tho country ot tho weekly half-holiday on' different days, but tho speaker was one who,believed: in protecting the small-against Jic. largo. It was plainly -true,'as : <jo.uiisijlpr, Cohen had .'said,''that the :small shopkeeper did the bulk of.his trade on-bat-urday. It was (iiiito right that • large firms should closo on' Saturday if they thought it l)est in their own interests,, but-it' : would'-b'e a : very great hardship if ■ the' small : shopkeepers were compelled to close. 'A great part of-tho money of working people, Mr. Wilford. remarked,, was spent at the-end of tho week, .becauso:they were paid t,heu: Personally lie had favoured Saturday until shown by the shopkeepers what it meant. The pounds, shillings, and pence aspect was -not the only one'to be considered, but it , could not be ignored. Mr. Wilford agreed ,with : Councillor Trevor that the observance of .two halHiolidays enabled., theln to-cope'with the requirements of' the younger generation in,the matter of athletic grounds. : -.■--■■ '■ '.". . : Mr. Thompson. (Johnsonyille) said, his, ■ favoured AVednesday. He pointed out that the manufacturing industries, of Wellington observed- Saturday, and always would do so. The bulk ,of the people were , thus enabled .to ■. shop .on Saturday. -If tho shops were closed, on Saturday, an awkward position,. would arise. ' ' . ' ' ■'Councillor Thompson (Wellington), said that personally he would favour Satu> day when it came as a universal holiday. The amendment was lost, and the motion that Wednesday be the day of the half-holiday was carried. Six' delegates voted.for Wednesday and three for Saturday. .-.