TE KUITI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 639, 31 January 1914, Page 5

TE KUITI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION. A special meeting of the Te Kuiti Borough Council was held last night for the purpose of determining the day upon which the half-holiday was to be fixed for the ensuing period. The Mavor, in referring to the bußines. said the responsibility of determining the matter was thrown upon the borough. Two petitions were received concerning the question, one favouring Saturday from the public containing 209 signatures, the other favouring Thursday from a number of others including 23 out of the 35 traders directly interested. Mr Allison appeared in support of the petition favouring Saturday, pointed cut that the great majority of those who were directly affected were in favour of Thursday. Cr Martin Baid the petitions came under th° operation of the Shops and Offices Act. It had to be remembered that under that Act there were two methods of dealing with the position. The Council could decide the matter during January, or, if the public were deeply interested provision would be made for the taking of a poll of ratepayers on the question on the day of the election of council lors. He contended the matter was of too great importance to the public to be'decidfd by the council. Especially was this so in view of the provision made for leaving the matter in the hards of the. ratepayers. It appeared to him thst the best principle was undoubtedly to leave the matter tot he public. He did not mean to infer that he himself was opposed to the Saturday hnlf-holiday, but as a matter of principle he believed in referring the matter to the ratepayers. Con spquently he would move that the day at present observed should be continued. Cr Jones seconded the motion. The Mayor he agreed with She principle of referring the matter to the ratepayers. The motion was carried unanimously, and the half-holiday will continue as at pregpnt.