WEDNESDAY HALF-HOLIDAY.

Northland Age, Volume 2, Issue 2, 15 January 1930, Page 4

WEDNESDAY HALF-HOLIDAY.

REVERSION TO MID-WEEK. j TOWN EOARD’S DECISION. CHAIRMAN GIVES CASTING VOTE. On the casting vote of the chairman, the Kaitaia Town Board decided on Monday night to revert to the Wednesday halfholiday for the ensuing 12 months' Only the chairman (Mr. J. T. B. Taaffe) and Messrs. Peace and Reynolds were present, but Mr. Bedggood arrived before the board voted on the matter. The decision was made after the presenting of petitions by both the mid-week and Saturday parties and the hearing of a speaker from each side. After careful scrutiny of the names appearing on the petitions, the Wednesday list, bearing a small majority of signatures, was taken as representing the balance of opinion. About 4° members of the pubi c were present.

Chairman Favours Mid-week Stating the position as regards the weekly half-holiday seemed to be getting more acute than usual, Mr. J. T. B. Taaffe proposed the lists presented should be gone through by the board with scrutineers from each side. Contending the matter should not be dealt with except by a full meeting of the board, Mr. Reynolds stated that had there not been such a large gathering of residents he would have moved for the adjournment of the meeting.

“I was rung up by the clerk, but I was absolutely against an adjournment,” stated Mr. Taaffe. He then called on the speakers from each side.

Arguments For Saturday. Speaking for those favouring Saturday closing, Mr. L. A. McIntosh stated only one representative would speak for each side, and he requested the proposed time limit for each speaker should be extended. Making it clear hewas not speaking in the capacity of an officer of the dairy company but as a representative of firms trading in the town, he pointed out the Legislature stated the half holiday was for the benefit of employees, and contended the names of employees appearing on the petitions should give the board a lead in reaching a decision. He particularly stressed the opinion that businessmen going against employees in this regard were selfish. He considered it would be borne out that Saturday closing during the past twelve months had been quite satisfactory, and there had been quite good gatherings at sports functions. No Financial Detriment “I will say definitely trn f baturday closing has not effected the financial position at all,” stated Mr. Mclntosh. “If anything there has been a slight gain.” He argued that those coming into town to do business spread their business over the whole dav when Saturday was the open day, but now exactly the same amount of business was done in three or four hours Throughout the Dominion there was a general movement towards Saturday closing. A Personal Note

There was a certain business man in the town who had stated that several businesses in the town had been very adversely affected by the Saturday closing, but that man was not present at the meeting, Mr. Mclntosh said. The board needed some proof of that statement, which had no

bearing on the question unless substantiated bv definite evidence. Everyone in the town knew that those businesses would have been affected in any case. “I have it on very good authority that the county council is going to introduce Saturday closing throughout the county,” the speaker asserted. It was rather curious, he continued, that the principal mover in the half-holiday matter was not present. v Mr Reynolds Objects Mr. Mclntosh’s next remarks were of a personal nature, and Mr. Reynolds immediately objected. "I rise to a point of order,” he stated. "I suggest that personal reference be left out.” "You are bit late,” replied the chairman. "Well, I object to those remarks as being somewhat in bad taste,” Mr. Reynolds insisted. * “Well, I’ve finished now,” Mr. Mclntosh said, resuming his seat. The Other Side “1 take it that any arguments will not affect the issue, but that the majority ot names on the petitions will decide the question,” stated Mr. G. Foster, speaking in favour of the mid-week holiday. Contending the Saturday closing had been in the nature of an experiment for one yeai he claimed it had proved a deplorable failure. “Out ot all the business men in this town,” he stated, "there are no less than 25, whose names are on that petition, who have found Saturday closing a failure, There are just four retail firms in favour of Saturday closing.” Regarding the protection of employees, there was no body of men and women, with the possible exception of domestic servants, which was not amply provided for by award. Harm To Small Men

To the majority of the small tradesmen, Mr. Foster contended, the results of the Saturday closing had been very serious. In regard to the effect on sports, as far as football was concerned, last year the gate takings had declined greatly. The argument that more business had been done last year he ascribed to the record dairying season. So far as the question of Saturday closing becoming general was concerned, out of 134 townships, counties, road districts, etc., in the Auckland province, there were only thirty five which closed on Saturday, and six of these were suburbs of Auckland. Football Takings Drop A drop of £4O to £SO in the takings of the Mangonui Rugby Union last season, when the Saturday half-holiday had been in operation, was reported by Mr. G. Moore, president of the union. He really considered the, Saturday closing a detriment to sport. Petitions Scrutinised Considerable argument ensued amongst board members as to whether the issue should be decided on the petitions, Mr. Peace contending strongly it 'was unfair to judge on the comparatively few names submitted. Mr. Reynolds stated he attached little importance to (he petitions, for he had asked at 3 o’clock that afternoon to type the headings to the mid-week petition, and all signatures on it had been obtained since 3 o’clock. It was finally decided to go into committee to scrutinise the lists.

On resuming ooen meeting Mr. Bedggood took his seat. The chairman announced that after scrutiny of the petitions and the

elimination of several names there was a small majority in favour of mid week closing. A motion by Mr. Reynolds that Wednesday should be the statutory half-holiday for the 12 months as from March 31 next was seconded by Mr. Peace. “Personally I am in favour of Saturday,” Mr. Peace stated, “and I know some people will be disappointed in the way I am going to vote, but I vote this way because the majority of the business people are in favour of the Saturday open day.” An amendment by Mr. Mitchell that the half-holiday should be on Saturday was seconded by Mr. Bedggood. On being put to the vote the amendment was lost on the chairman’s casting vote, the voting being : —For, Commissioners Mitchell and Bedggood ; "against, Cmrs. Reynolds and Peace. The chairman gave his deciding vote against, and the motion in favour of Wednesday closing was then carried.

“It is open to anyone who is not satisfied to petition for a poll,” said Mr. Taaffe in conclusion.

“There’ll be a poll alright,” retorted Mr. Mclntosh as he left the room.