TRADES PICNIC

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 March 1937, Page 2

TRADES PICNIC

NOT NEXT SATURDAY. A public announcement, yesterday, that the annual trades picnic would be held on Saturday next at Hokitika, produced. a largely-attended meeting of jGreymouth business men this morning. Protests were made that the usual procedure of arranging the annual picnic day, by mutual consent of employers and employees, had not been carried out, the employers not being consulted in the matter. It was unanimously decided that business houses should observe only the usual Saturday half-holiday on Saturday next, and that a representative committee of the Business Association, should meet the employees to arrange a suitable date for the annual trades picnic. It was further decided that all business houses in Greymouth should observe a full holiday on Easter Saturday, closing their premises from the Thursday night (late night) immediately preceding Good Friday, until Tuesday morning, March 30. When tho position was placed before Mr. C. H. Hoskin (Inspector of Awards, at Greymouth), this morning, he .stated that the award provided for a full holiday on the occasion of the annual trades picnic, but before a holiday could be enforced, it would have to be shown that an organised picnic was to be held. The proposal to close on Saturday next, as the annual picnic day, was quite in order, if a picnic was 'to be held, but in the circumstances, he did not feel that the holiday could be enforced. “NARROW VIEW.” [TO THE EDITOR.] Sir, —I hear there is some opposition to the decision of the shop employees in deciding to hold their annual picnic at Hokitika next Saturday, on the occasion of the West Coast Air Pageant. The reason of the opposition to the decision is that Hokitika people will gain an advantage, at the expense of Greymouth. This seems to me to be a very narrow view taken by these opponents/ The shop employees are entitled to a day off to undertake their annual picnic. Hokitika is an ideal spot for a picnic, having all the facilities necessary for enjoyment, and this year has the added' attraction of a well-organised, air pageant. Saturday should suit shopkeepers and the public alike in the taking of the extra halfday’s holiday.—l am, etc., HELP OUR NEIGHBOURS.