HALF-HOLIDAY FOR SHOPS

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12379, 24 February 1903, Page 2

HALF-HOLIDAY FOR SHOPS

HOLIDAY ASSOCIATION. MEETING OF RETAILERS, RESOLUTION IN PAVOK OP WEDNESDAY, A meeting of the Holiday Association was hold at the Council Chambers ye.terday to consider the question of the statutory weekly half-holiday for chops. An invitation had been extended by advertisement to all employers under the Shops and Shop Assistants Act. Thera was an attendance of about sixty persons, and Mr J. K. Crerar occupied the chair. The chairman said that a grest many of the businesspeople of Napier bad asked him fir. chan man of tho Holiday Asioohition to convene this moating, in oormtquenco of tho great amount of dissatisfaction that had been expressed during tho hit three or tour weeks since tho Saturday half-holidsy came into being. He throw tho meeting open for tho reception of any motion bearing on tho subject, whether in tbo direction of petitioning tho council to revert to Wednesday at tho day for the half-holiday, or of letting things remain as they were at present. It was for the meeting to say what should be done. Mr W. E. lilythe said he presumed that everything had been said both for and against the change from Wednesday to Saturday. There was not tho ulightost need to go into the arguments pro end con. They had had practical experience of what the half-holiday on Saturday meant, and ho thought it would be sufficient to take a vote whether it should bo continued or whether they should revert to Wednesday. Those who considered that the change bad bsen generally beneficial would vote to have it continued, while those who considered that it was opposed to the best interests of storekeepers and the place as a whole would vote for a reversion to Wednesday. He moved, “ That in tho opinion of this association it is in the best interests of the pnblic and the trading community of Napier that Wednesday should again be fixed as the day for the weekly balf-holiday for shops." If this motion were carried it oonld be conveyed to tho Borough Council in whatever form might be necessary. Mr J. W, Crsig seconded the motion. Ho thonght the experience which they had had in connection with the halfholiday being on Saturday had opened the eyes of all retail traders at any rata to tho fact that it was a fatal thing to choose that day. He thought everyone would agree that trade bad been injured by the change. No valid reasons bad been advanced, so far as he had beard, against Wednesday. They all had been satisfied with the Wednesday half-holiday j it was a break in the week, and it did not inconvenience anyone. Now, there was a considerable outcry against the Saturday half-holiday, in consequence of the fact that it was very inconvenient (or country settlers and the working oleitos.

Mr J. V. Brown raid ho should like to know whether they had had a fair trial of tho Saturday half-holiday. There hod been no late train on Friday, for ■omo reaion which he did not know. Mr Blythe had been very guarded in ipeaking of tho effect of tho Saturday halfholiday on buiinesi. Mr Craig, it wat true, bad taid that bit experience was that it was detrimental to business. But ho should like to hoar a more general expression of experience. His ownexporiouce had boon that trade had increased rinoo tho change. (Ironical laughter). It might seem strange to some of those present that it should be so, but he would be willing to let an accountant go into bis firm's books, when it would bo seen that his statement was correct. When he began to speak he counted thirty-six persons in tho meeting; B few more came in afterwards. Most of those present at the meeting wore opposed to tho Saturday half-holiday. He agreed that it was possible that they woro being injured; but there were some two hundred tradespeople in Napier. He thought it was too soon to say whether the Saturday half-holiday was a success or a failure.

A voice: Wo have had quite ae much experience as we want, Mr Brown said that country tradespeople who said they had done more business since the change was in Napier were having a " little joke ’’ with their auditors. The attend ance at tho meeting was really of Wednesday people; tho Saturday people thought the question was settled.,

Mr J. P. Thomson said tho matter should be dealt with iu a common-sense way. In the ordinary course, it they got into a hole, they shitted as quick aa they oould, That wei the rule to follow in this matter. They had bad three weeks’ experience of the Saturday half-holiday, and in his opinion it wss just three weeks toomuoh. (Expressions of approval). Country customers could not come to Napier on Saturday, and the question was whether tho town was in a sufficiently prosperous state to> stand the loss of trade that that meant. He thought not. They should revert to the former state of affairs. (Applause). Mr G. Price said the big men would not pay their employees’ wages on Friday, and the Government would not put on a late train on that day unless a. certain sum was guaranteed. Mr J. K. Martin moved, as an amendment “That this association appoint one or two individuals to call on the business people who aro under the Act and receive their signatures for Wednesday or Saturday at the cate may be.” Ho thought that would be a fairer test than a vote at the meeting. Mr Brown seconded the amendment. Mr G. Eymer said he was twice urged to sign for Saturday, but no one came round to him for Wednesday, Something had been said about there being no late train on Friday. Well, the Taradale 'buses were run, but be was sorry to say that no one patronised them.

Mr A. H. Wilson said that in going round with the Wednesday petition they wore a week behind the Saturday people. His instructions were to atiok to the retail shops, and he got 96 names, whioh was 11 short of the number on the list prepared previously. To nuke things certain they analysed both lists. In doing so they eliminated tho signatures of proprietors of cafes, frnit shops blacksmiths’ shops, and breweries. That loft a majority of 26 in favor of tho Wednesday list. They had relied on their petition, but some of the councillors did not even look at it. Ono councillor put it aside when he came actors the name of a foreigner. Ho thought there wore 130 or 140 retail shopkeepers in Napier, and 98 of them signed tho petition in favor of retaining the Wednesday half-holiday. Ae to tho petition signed by 580 employees, he did not think one-third of them were shon employees at all. In the course of discussion Mr C’.-aig said the present was a thoroi>hlv representative meeting. When tho amendment wa-j pa t hj,. chairman declared that only one hand was held up in favor of it. “I? 1 * 0 ® * n I*™ of reverting to the Wednesday hal'-holiday was donated earned fcy 81 vote , b 0 almost unanimously. (Applause.) A letter was received from (ho Hawke s Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society asking for a half-holiday for tho autumn show on Wednesday, 22nd

Tho Fire Brigade:’ Demonstration Committee asked for a half-holiday on Wednesday, 11th March. ~ ™ 8 decided to reply in each case Wat there was a posiibility that the Wednesday half-holiday would bo reverted to.

i V^ Q , , thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting.