BUTCHERS’ HOLIDAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21899, 18 December 1945, Page 4

BUTCHERS’ HOLIDAY

COLD MEAT FOR XMAS

DECISION IN DUNEDIN

After several weeks of uncertainty, Dunedin housewives have at last learned finally that they must purchase their meat for Christmas dinner not later than the previous Friday. This is in line with the original decision of the Master Butchers’ Association that Friday. December 21, would be the last meat shopping day until Thursday, December 27. The New Year vacation would be one day shorter, as shops would, as a special concession, be open on the Saturday morning. Widespread protests from the public resulted in a proposal from the butchers that they obsereve only Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day as holidays—the shortest vacation for many years. The next step was taken by the employees, who not unnaturally resented the promised long holiday being cut so drastically. They have now decided the question by resolving not to work between December 21 and 27, or December 29 and January 3. This period will accordingly become the official butchers’ holidays in Dunedin, and the great majority of housewives must now resign themselves to a cold meal on Christmas Day.