THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 23 June 1923, Page 6

THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

'Hiis much-debated question came up at the meeting of the Council of the Chamber -of; Commerce held last J££ r& h \circu3a^ letter from the Feilding Chamber of .Commerce, drawing attention to the very unsatisfactory way of settling the holiday and asking endorsement of the opinion that thfi should be taken out of the hands of the people and settled by Parliament hVri chrectlon of a universal half- . Mr. Bennett said that Feilding had just gone back to the mid-week halfholiday with a thumping majority, after four years' experience of the Saturday half-holiday. If the Chamber was wise it would leave the matter alone The secretary (Mr. Sage) suggested that perhaps the letter might be re*7 to the Retailers' Association Mr. Bennett agreed that where there was a live Retailers' Association that was the proper body to deal with such a letter. Mr. Sellar mentioned Marton, and the secretary Invereargill, as towns that had reverted to the mid-week holiday. Mr. Bennett said that when the nature of the franchise was considered '' these decisions were all the more valuable as clearly showing the sentiments. Mr. Douglas asked what would b© the position if Saturday was made uni- < rersal. . Mr. Bennett said that all the towns m South Taranaki which had taken ! Saturday had gone back. He contend- i <vi that the franchise was all wrong; ! the matter should be left to the busi- i ness people, or, if universal franchise ] was allowed, then the people who kept I the towns going—the country peopleshould also have a vote on the question Saturday was the day that suited the country people. He was right | against Parliament interfering What! would suit one district might be against I the interests of another, and the districts should have the power of selfdetermination. Mr. Sellar said that the changed conditions of the past two had made ! a difference in the feeling of the public ) on the Question. The people in this district had seen the unwisdom of the I fo,Nw ywMd h* knT people ! f 1 ™0"^, who formerly had- i supported it. after two years' experi- i we?kTJlilf "^ g° baCk *> th 6 midThe secretary said that when previously approached the Minister would not consider making Saturday the universal holiday. It was then decided to defer consideration of the letter till next meeting In v *ew of the small attendance