[ESTABLISHED 1875.] Manawatu Daily Times The Oldest Manawatu Journal. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1913. THE BEST HOLIDAY.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1868, 12 March 1913, Page 4

[ESTABLISHED 1875.] Manawatu Daily Times The Oldest Manawatu Journal. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1913. THE BEST HOLIDAY.

Since businesses are conducted for profit it is possib e only to assume that those conducting them do so in the way which figure will give them the best returns. The meeting of business men yesterday was fairly unanimous in its statement as to the weekly holiday that would suit their trading best. Certainly the<e may be differences of opinion as to the extent of injury to trade that may result from any change, but there was no mistaking the verdict of th=> majority at yesterday's meeting. Ihe opinions, as regards the variety of businesses, were fairly comprehensive and conclusive. Palmerston, apparently does a very extensive Saturday afternoon and evening trade. That being so there seems only one way to approach the question. If business establishments will be injuriously affected it will not be for the good of the town to have any alteration, because if the businesses which go tc make up the town suffer the general prosperity of the place will necessarily suffer also. The general public may have their opinion about the matter, but as it affects them very little they are entitled to accept guidance ;n their decision at ihe poll from the majority who have much at stake, since the general public are very deeply concerned in the prosperity of the town. The views of those who declaim against any change are supported by experiments elsewhere. Napier found it convenient to revert to Wednesday after giving Saturday a trial; Nelson threw Saturday over with a majority of 1890 against 807, and hailed the restoration of the old order of things with popular demonstrations. Saturday has been tried in some cities, notably Wellington and Auckland, t-ut in each case it is those business places wbich conduct wholesale as ipell as retail departments, or portions of which come under the Factories Act, which adhere to Saturday closing. These businesses also, without exception, cater chiefly for the higher class of trade. Palmerston has not yet reached that magnitude which will allow business plact s profitably to make that distinction in their day of closing. From some points of view, perhaps, Saturday would prove the more popular holiday; but this matter should be viewed calmly, and from a business standpoint, and employees, who equally have the vote, should place any advantage they would gain, side by side with their employers' interests—which, after all, it is sound logic to say are their own interests.