THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 3 April 1909, Page 2

THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION.

PREPARING FOR THE POLL

Another meeting of Saturday halfholiday supporters was held at MerLor's " room last evening, when a gcod deal of routine business was transacted. Continued evidence of support was reported, and a large number 0 fnames of supporters was handed in. A further meeting has been arranged tor i' tie. day c\ enir.y. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I would like to cay that on tlie night of the recent Saturday excursion 1 saw four or five drunks on their way from town to the 10 o'clock train, and I also heard enough singing and shouting to convince me that I did not see all the drunks by a long chalk. How many there were I. could not say, but I would not havo cared for a sister or a female friend of mine to havo been out alone that night, especially on their i way to the train. Who did the best business previous lo 13 months ago, when the shops were open on a ■ Saturday ? Why, the publicans of oourse; and who are the people who are now opposing, strongly the Saturday closing! The publicans, of course. They know that men won't go on the spree on Friday nights because they must get to work next morning. There is no business to draw mon to town if shops are closfed Saturday, hence the injury to ;the publicans. I &m not -a -prohibitionist, but I don't sea why publicans should not be compelled to close 1 p.m Saturdays, and if we waut the GiA'ernment to make that compulsory then we must show them the way by closing all business on a Saturday.- • What has Saturday been lately! What criterion was. an excursion train as to Saturday, busiiiess'! If the Saturdayites, , Wednesdayites, or auy other "ites" like to run an excursion train they wonld draw $ crowd any day. in, the week. Naturally people in the country like anything cheap at any time, "whether it is railway fares or • necessities of life- Country people; Jike. bai'g'aSns as \ve|l as any -pne .else, ai.d is it likely they wilt -refrain from , coming to town any 7 day 'independently ■. of Saturday if spmal bargains are of- ... .:? fared by tb w/i '- husir ess people ?. - On, . ... the otliet hand., people must renjeihbe'r. ?, that, country .stores, offer speciaripduce- y ment any day 'in the week and' con-. 77? p-.le with the ..town .stotes, and> .; offer? P-y. all, country people go to .the ;niarket : ; . : 7 that pays t^tsjn' best. Counfry';7«tdres7 ;! .- - are not what' they were 1Q "lp? -20;? Jj^arjv V"' ago. . If' it pays a country, .persda'.befc.. ."-' ter to come tc town bpyj'J(Ke7iJay7Ymakes no difference.. s..hiin? THey'.e?piv 7 the look-out for -JbjMg^iiis .any day.vin'-'Y the week in tow'nVpp ; ;^^tiy," - '-.' Thanking you ,_!%' 6pacs£7 V '7 77?:? 77 yy,^X'iiyky^Pi-.-iyyy ..-r - * .- •', P^ypi^^mi^y-r, „ 3rd. April,;, 1909^ • 7 r;;- '-"rf. y-'y;