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Evening Star, Issue 14531, 6 December 1910, Page 4

Somk doubt, has arisen as to the effect of the Public Holidays Act Observance Of (just parsed) in enjeinChristmas Day. ing that whenever Christmas Day falls nn a Simday, as happens this year, it shall he observed on tho following day (Mondavi. On (he one hand, it was contended that hie intention of tho Legislature- was to pieserve tho secular character of the holiday ; on the other, that tho Acts which prescribe that Christmas Day 6hall bo treated as a quasi-religious holiday remain in full operation. For instance, tho Licensing Act governs tho situation, and hotels must close. We understand that tho Minister of Labor referred tho point to the Attor-rey-CicneraL. who has given the following opinion:

Section 2 of tho Public Holidays Act says: "Where in any Act, etc., reference is" made, inter alia, to Christmas Day, such referonco shall, when that day fails on a Sunday, bo deemed to bo to tho next succeeding Morday." Tho closing of hotels on Christmas Day is enforced by provision in an Act, (that is, by the Licensing Act, 1903), .•iid in my'opinion the Monday that is substituted for tho Sunday Christmas Day, as abovo provided, must bo ob served as Christmas Day, and hotels must close. As to newspapers, if they are. prevented by Act from publishing on Christinas Day, they cannot so publish ; but T do not think that they are so prohibited. Tho Press of tho Dominion, however, have agreed to suspend publication on Monday, the 26th inst.