CORRESPONDENCE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 3 June 1919, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE

THE KING'S BIRTHDAY.

(To th 0 Editor.) '• Sir, —A friend of mine, who is engaged in a business in Haw-era, has asked me how it is that he, e m common with many others, gets only about 50 per cent, of the public- holidays. He stated that ho was not deprived of this half of what he should have in Wellington: and in support of his contention he showed me an advertisement in your columns, stating tihat "Tuesday, Juno 3 (King's Birthday) will be observed as a whole holiday. Shops will, in consequence, remain open all day on Wednesday. June 4th." I told* him that I thought it probable a la-.vyer would tell him. if consulted, that legally tins could be done, but lie seemed more con- * earned for the loss of half his holiday than for dry minutiae as to its legality. The usual holiday is on Wednesday, from noon. As things are d'jne in Hawera, the King's Birthday—or any other so-called "holiday," is observed as a half-holiday in the morning. Employees are engaged on the understanding that they have a free afternoon on Wednesday. If then It is desired to observe any anniversary or event as a festival or holiday—such a.s Anniversary Day or the King's Birthdny, well and good, no average employee [this letter does not refer to workers paid only by tinio worked] will object to an extra holiday. Bnt he wall, and doss strongS' < object to being deprived of Wednesay half day—and he objects as strongly to the pretence that "the King's Birthday will b e observed as a whole holiday." The Hawera Tradesmen's Association's advertisement should read "Tuesday, June 3 (King's Birthday) will be observed as a holiday til] 12 noon; the usual Wednesday holiday will be taken on Tuesday afternoon instead of Wednesday." What do the banks do? They have a whole holiday o n the King's Birthday— but they do not remain open on Saturday afternoon. In no town where Saturday is the usual half day does th^ occurrence of a holiday during tho week deprive the employees of the Saturday afternoon. It may be contended that there are too many extra holidays beside the usual half day. This raay be true—but it is quite another matter, and true or not is not a sound argument for depriving employees of Wednesday. What would tho Hawera employer of my indignant friend think if he were informed by hie employee that next week be was going to work on Wednesday afternoon and would take.his holiday on, say, Saturday, as he wanted, to play golf with a man in a bank, "who gets Saturday half day," or for any other cogent reason? But sauce for geese :s still sauce for ganders. That seems to imply that the employes are geesp-.-perhaps they are, to submit so meekly. Can any of your readers give my frinnd a good reasonable explanation, and an answer to his complaint?—l am, etc., "JOHN DOE." Hawera, June 2, 1919.