The Lyttelton Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1909. THE WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14979, 27 April 1909, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1909. THE WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

If tho comparative activity of" tho organised bodies could be taken, as a guide, the supporters of the Thursday half-boliday would have matters largely their own way at to-morrow’s poll. We suppose the' advocates of tho universal Saturday holiday are depending on tho “silent vote” to carry the day, but they should remember that many people who approve of the change will not take the trouble to record their votes unless they are stimulated by a brisk agitation. So far as argument goes, the advocates of Thursday closing have had the platform almost entirely to themselves of late. Our chief concern just now is that, tho matter should be settled fairly by a reasonable publio vote. A small poll would leave rcom for troublesome grievances. From all points of view it is better that the publio should have the decision, of this question than that it should be left to a small conference of local bodies, but to make the settlement a satisfactory one there must bo a substantial and representative vote of the electors. Wo may take it that the average shopassistant would prefer to have his holiday on Saturday afternoon, when the workers in factories, warehouses and offices are at leisure, and there can be no question that from his point of view Saturday is the better day for the afternoon's relief. On the other hand, the views of the shopkeeper must not be ignored. A great trade is unquestionably transacted in the city on Saturday nights, and while some of the Big establishments believe that they would lose, nothing in tho long run by closing on Saturday instead of on Thursday, the proprietors of tho smaller shops seem to he fairly unanimous in thinking that the special business lost by Saturday Closing would never be recovered. There is a large “catch trade” dependent on the presence of farmers and their wives in town on Saturday afternoons, and on the gathering of Crowds in the streets on Saturday nights. We are bound to say, however, that in our view Saturday closing would not appreciably affect the trade from the country, because most of the farmers and their wives complete their shopping before one o’dook. The Saturday night trade is a problem of a different kind, and we do not pretend to prophesy whether a 1 Wednesday or Thursday or Friday late night would attain the popularity of the present late night. But while the publio are weighing the apparently conflicting interests of the shopkeepers and tho shop assistants, they must remember that there are other aspects of the question to be considered. Thursday afternoon is practically a “dies non” in the city. The warehouses might as well be closed, for all the business they do, and the duplication of the half-holiday prejudicially affects many branches of trade. Mr W. W. Tanner has raised a most important point in a letter which wo publish this morning. 'He warns the workers that the alternative to a universal Saturday half-holiday may be a universal Thursday half-holiday, and that the proposal to close factories on Thursdays, which was defeated in Parliament a few sessions ago, may be revived. Mr Tanner’s view is plainly that the defeat of the present proposal to substitute Saturday for Thursday would strengthen the hands of those people who would substitute Thursday for Saturday as the day for tho halfholiday in factories. We do not know how far this view is justified, but it ia plain that the holiday question is ono which affects the whole community, and that it Has been very properly referred to tho electors to decide.