Holiday Committee.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7842, 20 May 1904, Page 8

Holiday Committee.

Early Closing' Declined.

The Holiday Committee met at the Council Chamber this morning. Mr G H. Bennett presided and twelve nipmbers were present. The first business was discussion ot a notice of motion by Mr Durward " That m Juture this Commitiee will refuse to accede to any request to change t.»e Wednesday half-holiday to any 0 h°r day except the holidays for the A. and P. Show."

The members were of opinion that tte motion was too binding, and that occasions would anso when they would be bound- to alter the day. General sym- ! patby was expres.-ed with the object of the motion, the Chairman, stating it would be as well for the community to know that the Committee was strongly disinclined to a'ter the day. Ou Mr Cohen'a amendment the words " except the holidays for tbo A. and P. Show " were altered to read "except on occasions of intense public interest and importance." The Chairman mentioned that he had on several occasions declioed to call the Committee together, when requpsted, as he did nos consider there wib sufficient reason. ("Hear, hear," ana '• Qai c right *' from the msinbers.present.) The Chairman said the other business was the consideration of early closm". He had been spaken to by one member of the Associa ion in reference to the rnattt-r and had now received a letter from Mr C. 81 Pickering suggesting that during the winter the business premises close at 5.30 p.m daring the week and 9.30 on Saturday evenings. The Chairman said he ■nought that during the winter months the Bhops might close at 9 pm. on Saturdays. There was very little business done after 9 o'c'ock and ihe saving would be considerable. There was a strong'feeling against closing earl? on Saturday. Mr Bennett mentijne'd two large firms that objected, one stating that their premisses would not be closed, even if the commutes decided to do so. To test the feelmg of the meeting Mr Bennett moved that from the Ist of June the Assooiation request the business people of Palmersxon to close from 9 o'clook on Baiurdiy evenings.—Seconded by Me Nash pro form*. . ... In the course of discussion members expressed themselves favourable to the motion, but in the face of the information that there was opposition to the proposal and that tho Committee's resolutions wera not binding on the whole of the tradespeople, it being a matter of [ißreement, the speakers recognised that it would be unwise to pass suoh a resolution. When pm it wa3 therefore lost unani- ! mousl/. The meotiug then sojourned.