DATE OF GENERAL ELECTION

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 7 June 1935, Page 8

DATE OF GENERAL ELECTION

TOO NEAR CHRISTMAS. INTERFERENCE WITH BUSINESS. On the ground that the holding of the general elections in the month of December had too disturbing an influence on business, the council of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce at its meeting last night decided to ask the Associated Chambers of Commerce to make representations with a view to having the elections held in November. The matter was raised in a letter from the New Plymouth Retailers’ Association, who urged this change, and also that it should not be compulsory to close for half a day on the day £>f the elections. Mr P. J. 11. White said the drapers of the Dominion had raised this matter on previous occasions as they were unanimously of opinion that December was too late for the elections as it interfered with the Christmas business. Messrs W. P. Griffith and E. C. Hayton moved and seconded, respectively, that this ichamber make representations to the Associated Chambers of Commerce with a view to having a: change to November made in the date of the election.* Mr White said that if the associated chambers took up the matter the Government would have to take notice, as they represented the commercial community of the whole Dominion. Mr G. 11. Dolby said the half-holiday question was a statutory matter, and to alter that would need an amendment of the Act. Mr White said lie thought it was not expedient to move in the direction of j an amendment to flic Shops and Offices Act at the present time. They recognised that employees had to be allowed a reasonable time in which to vote, but ho did not know that it required half in: day.

The council decided to take no action in regard to the half-holiday question, and its decisions will be communicated to the Retailers’ Association.