WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20309, 17 July 1929, Page 10

WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY.

There will be surprise, and in many parts of the Dominion indignation, at the Government's proposal to make the Saturday halfholiday compulsory. The idea was sprung on the Prime Minister by a deputation iu Is'apier last May, and perhaps without realising the implications of his undertaking, Sir Joseph Ward promised to introduce legislation to test the feeling of Parliament, though he remarked that it seemed impossible to select any day that would be suitable for all interests. The promise was made but the Government has now realised the dangers of adopting as its own policy a project that will certainly be strongly opposed. It has, therefore, decided to test the opinion of Parliament by submitting a motion, so that whatever the decision, all the responsibility will be transferred to the House of Representatives. The Government cannot, however, avoid all the consequences of its precipitancy. The advocates of a universal half-holiday will not hesitate to reproach it with timidity, and if it considers they are so few that they may be offended with impunity, it cannot so easily ignore the resentment of the large number who will be provoked by its raising of the question at all. The weekly halfholiday is entirely a domestic matter, to be fixed by each town or district to suit its own interests. That principle has been established in the law for many years, and no new circumstance has arisen to justify interference with it, nor is there any evidence that national interests are so prejudiced that, local rights should be sacrificed to a sectional demand. Under the existing statutory provisions, every local authority has the right to review the matter annually, except that m boroughs and town districts a poll of the electors may be taken, the resulting decision remaining in force until changed by another poll. This measure has enabled the larger towns to adopt Saturday as the closing day, while preserving the right for others to adhere to whichever day suits them best, and in practice their choice comprises every day of the week except Monday. By its present action, the Government will merely create a great deal of unnecessary disturbance and vexation, since people who consider they can manage their own affairs to the best advantage will not passively await the deliberations of Parliament, but will proceed at once to organise meetings, demonstrations and deputations. Surely there are enough serious matters to occupy Parliament- without the Government's deliberate stirring up of discord by bringing forward a proposal thafc will certainly be condemned.