THE WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14979, 27 April 1909, Page 4

THE WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir, —I have watched the correspondence in. your columns regarding the Thursday v. Saturday question without taking any part in it, but I am astounded at the indifference and lack of memory displayed by the factory workers who now enjoy, and have always enjoyed, the half-holiday on Saturday. Judging from correspondence they seem to bo living in a fool’s paradise, never dreaming that the recognition of Thursday by popular vote in the large towns as the day of the weekly half-holiday for shops must imperil later on, the continuation of the Saturday half-holi-day recognised (but not established in the first case) by the Factories Act. With only ordinary foresight, the carpenters, bootmakers, clothing factory hands and others must anticipate that a demand for uniformity will inevitably arise later on if the above contingency takes place, but their lethargy on the subject is so profound 'that the secretary of the Thursday movement, in your opening page of to-day’s issue, denies any risk of Saturday being changed, stigmatises any report to that effect as absolutely false, and valiantly offers £IOO reward to anyone proving that such provision can bo found on the Statute Book. The offer is very carefully worded, or I might bo £IOO richer in a few days; but I can soon prove that a vigorous attempt to

enact what Mr Badger denies was made in Parliament a few sessions ago, and came very near to success. Anyone interested’ can see for himself on page 668 of “ Hansard,” vol. 122, under date September 2b, 1902. On that occasion a small amendment of the factory law was before the House of Representatives, when a proposal was made to amend the. Act by giving power to- Borough Councils to substitute another working day of the week for the half-holiday in lieu of Saturday for factory workers. This wa3 no question of shops or shop assistants, but an attempt to identify the Saturday halfholiday with the shop closing holiday. The proposal met with much expressed support in the House from the country members, but it was warmly opposed by Mr Millar (now Minister of Railways), myself, Mr Arnold and others. The first-named threatened to block the proposal all night, if necessary, iu order to give time to rouse the organised labour bodies in the south and attract the attention of those enjoying Saturday,- and after some excitement and feeling the proposal was withdrawn without a division, only to be reintroduced and carried in another form, with a more limited application. Truly the need for incessant vigilance in all these matters is as great as ever, but if the workers who have their Saturday afternoons at their own disposal ever lose that privilege by. an unexpected amendment of the law. or a snap division in the House, it will be largely duo to their own inertness in failing to use their influence at the proper psychological moment.—l am, etc., W. W. TANNER. Linwood, April 26, 1909.