Saturday as Half-holiday

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 132, 7 June 1935, Page 6

Saturday as Half-holiday

Likely to be National Issue

SUPPORT FROM PALMERSTON NORTH

There is every probability of Saturday as the universal halfholiday throughout the Dominion being made an issue at the General Election in November next. The matter, according to report, is to be officially brought before the next sitting of Parliament by Mr W. E. Barnard, M.P. for Napier, but in the meantime steps are being taken to arouse New Zealand-wide interest in tho proposal. As far as Palmerston North is concerned, a ‘'Times” reporter discovered yesterday that there was practically a unanimous feeling in favour of such a proposal, even from those who would have nothing to do with it were it simply a city or local issue. As a matter of fact, it is common knowledge that Palmerston North will have nothing to do with Saturday closing for everybody so long as adjacent towns continued with Wednesday, but the objections raised disappear when ft comes to the wholo of the Dominion’s business premises closing on the same halfday.

The mutter is to bo brought before the Palmerston North section of the Employers’ Federation shortly and also the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce, so that the issue may be discussed, and those behind the movement believe that it will be accepted with open arms. Businessmen with whom the matter was discussed yesterday pointed out that, in the days of motor-cars every week-day was a'shoopiug day for the farming community. It only had to start to rain and the men on the land Hocked to town business bent. And as far as Palmerston North was concerned, it was situated as Hamilton is—in the midst of a large rural area in which smaller towns were dotted about; yet Hamilton would not hear of going back to the mid-week half-day.

It is also stated that a rough preliminary survey of opinions held by business people in towns adjacent to Palmerston North, reveals that an extended week-end is favoured.

And so it is opined that there would be an overwhelming vote in favour of Saturday if it is made a national issue next November;

Waipukurau’s Wednesday Half-holiday Challenged IRREGULARITIES IN POLL ALLEGED Per Press Association. WAIPUKURAU, Last Night. An inquiry into the question whether the recent poll to determine the statutory closing day at Waipukurau should be declared void was heard today before Mr Miller, S.M., the petition having been signed by ten electors and opposed by certain others. The irregularities were alleged to cover the counting of votes, some having been disallowed by the returning officer and others allowed; that tho exercising of the full rights of scrutineers were not allowed; that company votes, etc., were not in order; also that votes by proxy were irregular; further, that certain persons did not possess the required qualilieations of electors. Tho polling ligurcs were: Wednesday, 462; .Saturday, 455; informal, 19; Wednesday being retained, dating back to .1921) as the local lialf-holidav.

The returning officer, Air 11, B. Smart (town clerk), gave evidence explaining why eight votes of 17. bv declaration were allowed and only two of these were challenged by counsel for the petitioners, residential qualifications being involved. Witness said there were two booths for tho poll. He had given no instructions that there was to be only one scrutineer. Company votes totalling about thirty wero exercised and counsel argued that the authorities should be produced at each election. This had not been done at the recent poll. Further evidence was given by K. E. Knobloch and M. A. Maoßae, the former us to residential qualifications and the latter as a scrutineer on behalf of the Saturday half-holiday advocates. Following lengthy argument the Magistrate announced that he would give his written decision at an early date.