EGMONT COUNTY HOLIDAY

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 15 January 1930, Page 4

EGMONT COUNTY HOLIDAY

COUNCIL CHOOSES SATURDAY. A special meeting of the Egniont County Council was held at Opunakc yesterday to consider the question of the weekly half-holiday during the ensuing year. The chairman (Or W. C. Green) said that for many years the wishes of Opunake business people in the matter o,f the statutory half-holiday in the county had been the main factor in the choice of Wednesday. ‘ ‘ Opunake is a town district, outside the jurisdiction of the country, in which the choice of the weekly break lies with the Town Board, and therefore does not affect the position,” said the chairman. “A desire for a change is manifested in a petition to the council, signed by 40 residents of Rahotu, who aire in favour of Saturday.” He understood that the 'same day had been chosen in Awatuna. C.r J. F. Shepherd was in favour of Saturday, and said it was only a matter of time when the movement would become general.

The ehairmiain said it was not compulsory to coincide with the wishes of the Rahotu petitioners, but seeing that the principal business people were included in the request for a change, he thought the council should take more than passing notice. Provision was made for taking a vote on the question in towns and town districts, and in choosing a county holiday he wished it to be understood that the council had no feeling in the matter.

Or J. S. Tosland said in this instance the lead was given by business people. Hu moved that the council declare Saturday the statutory county weekly .half-holiday. Cr J. Young, representing Oaonui, thought there would be *no opposition from his riding. The chairman said if the change was found detrimental to business interests the council could in twelve months’ time revert to the old order of things. The motion was carried.