“ Unfair, Unjust, Absurd and Farcical ”

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 275, 21 November 1935, Page 6

“ Unfair, Unjust, Absurd and Farcical ”

CLOSING OF SHOPS ON ELECTION DAY Per Press Association. MASTER TON, Last Nignl. Mastcrton shopkeepers, or a good many of them, thoroughly agro with those of Wangauui that the transfer of the weekly half-holiday to electiou day is "unfair, unjust, absurd and farcical'.” A number of Mastertou shopkeepers —members of the Drapers’ Association and others —have decided to close ou election day only from noon to 2 p.m., and to remain open from 2 to 5.30 p.m. Tho usual Saturday half-holiday will be observed in that week. Many people will be in town on election day and local shopkeepers consider that to close the shops is b"‘ i absurd aud unnecessary. With the shops closed from noon to 2 p.m. all shop employees will have ample tune iu which to vote. It is asked why shops alone (apart from hotels) should be singled out and required to close ou election day, when factories, banks, stock and station agents, professional and other offices are not required to close. Quo queer anomaly mentioned is that tearooms may bo kept open on the afternoon of election day but no one must bo employed iu them. Being permitted to keep open ou Saturday until 5.30 p.m. is no compensation to shopkeepers for the Wednesday half-day. It is pointed out that [utst experience has shown that litt'c business is done on Saturday afternoon by sli.ops which normally cfose on that day. On the Saturday afternoon following on the last election business was so poor that several shops cb -d considerably before 5.30 p.m.