WHAT HOLIDAY? WEDNESDAY OR SATURDAY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1913, Page 7

WHAT HOLIDAY? WEDNESDAY OR SATURDAY

LABOUR'S ACTIVE CAMPAIGN SHOPKEEPERS STILL APATHETIC. There are 1100 shopkeepers in Wellington and suburbs all directly or indirectly (being shopkeepers) interested in tho question of the day on which the half-Holiday should be taken. There was a great struggle between the advocates ahd opponents to the Saturday break on the point some two years ago, when the pro-Saturdays were worsted. Labour (with the local Trades Council at the head)) made a big effort to turn defeat in 1911, and there is evidence that the same Labour is going to make a bold bid to turn the tables on this occasion. The local labour unions (or certain of them) hai/e been making an active canvass for signatures to the petition for a poll on the subject. Some half-dozen of them put in Saturday afternoon and evening last "working" the streets for adherents. No fewer than 960 citizens signed the petition, while 700 were enrolled on the municipal rolls. Another vigorous campaign is to be held next Saturday, and, as at a meeting last evening it was reported that about 3000 signatures had been obtained, and as the promoters have . until 26th March to perfect their plans, it will be seen that the number of names sufficient to ensure a poll being taken is practically assured. Labour is taking the question very seriously. They argue for Saturday, without any reservation whatever. The majority of shop assistants who now have Wednesday off are, it is stated, with them, and among the signatures obtained are those of a large number of shopkeepers in Newtown, Courtenayplace, and most other suburbs and, indeed in the heart of the city itself (Lambton-quay particulrly), who have expressed a desire for the week-end holiday. THE BATTLE TWO YEARS AGO. On the last occasion of the contest one or two* earnest people, members of the local Shopkeepers' Association, inaugurated a campaign in favour of tho retention of Wednesday. Fighting funds were gathered, meetings held, a paid secretary was appointed to assist the movement, and success waited on the effort. On this occasion, so far as a Post representative could ascertain to-day, ibtQ shopkeepers have not yet moved, as a, body, one way or the other. No meeting of the Wellington Shopkeepers' .Association has been called to consider the question, and one member approached to-day stated that he thought it -was just about time something should be done. It is obvious, our informant stated, that the association has not the strength of its pTime, and it is also fairly apparent that there is an dement of apathy in. the body. It is explained in extenuation that this is, perhaps, because there have been few or no drastic economic changes to necessitate the shopkeepers conferring, but it is significant in regard to the charge of apathy laid at the association's door that there has so far been no step taken in the direction of declaring for either one way or the other^ on the question under discussion — and it is feiy certain that, should*- the majority required vote for Saturday " half -holiday, a number of the smaller men will feel the pineh — and quickly. WEEK-END RUSH OF TRADE. In reply to enquiries to-day, a wellknown business man said to this effect : "Personally, I do not .much trouble, whether we get Saturday or Wednesday. You have 6een my takings, as entered in tho rough cash-book, for this year, and those figures demonstrate that my Saturday business is mostly worth three other days of the week. To begin with, lam against compulsory closing— a shopkeeper should, in reason, be allowed to take his half-day when he pleases, when it suits him best. My assistants favour Wednesday. I expect the majority favour Saturday. If we have to close on Saturday I shall certainly lose a lot of suburban business that now comes my way. One thing stands out clear— and I am not sure that ifc is not a. good thingj especially for the shops in Petone, Hutt, and such places — that to close the city places on Saturday will localise business more — the suburban shopkeepers will, reap the benefit. That is somewhat of a selfish viewpoint, I admit, but, then, we must necessarily be a little selfish in this matter." NO REAL SUBSTITUTE FOR SATURDAY. Is is not unlikely that, in the event of a change to Saturday, matters will adjust themselves? "Probably they will. But lam afraid the bulk of our suburban customers will not, And will not be abl6 to, itaake Friday evening, say, a substitute for ■ Saturday^ More particularly does thie apply to people who come in from the Hutt, Johnsonville, Petone, and such places. There will not be the 'family' shopping that obtains oh Saturday night. On Saturday afternoon,' after the /chores' are done, the labourer * will climb into his store clothes, tell the 'missus' to get her best things on, and into town they travel. They do not mind being home late on Saturday evening, because there need be no hurry on Sunday — they can lie in. But you can rest assured that there would not be nearly the same inducements to dress up and bo out late on Friday evening if the wage-earner had to rise early on Saturday morning to go to his Avork. SUBURBAN SHOPS WILL BENEFIT. "I know quite a number of our members are (or at least, I understand they are) in favour of Saturday closing. Well, if the majority favour that it will suit me too. But until we have a meeting to discuss our attitude as an association it is Useless for any one of us to say what we intend to do. I don't intend to fight a lone-hand battle. Personally (as I have already said) I am, to a great extent, unexcited over the prospect ,of Saturday being made the weekly half-holiday, because I know I can stand the racket, but I belieye there are some others— certain of the smaller men — who , would not be so happily situated. I don't doubt but that the Saturday half-holiday would work allright . once the city got accustomed to it. But there it is : The best feature (I am trying to be unselfish now) of the week-end holiday would be that shopkeepers beyond the limits of the city and suburban business places would have the suburban traffic diverted through their doors — so it would benefit some deserving people. "But," the speaker concluded, "I can't tell you, for I don't know, whether tho Wellington Shopkeepers' Association has changed its mind in two years, and is now tired enough to let this issue go past without a struggle. Maybe we will have a meeting soon. We shall have to hurry."'