KING'S BIRTHDAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22628, 16 January 1937, Page 16

KING'S BIRTHDAY

DATE OF THE HOLIDAY DECEMBER UNSUITABLE PROPOSED CHANGE WELCOMED There is every reason to believe that a hearty welcome would he given here to the proposal being taken up in Australia and in parts of New Zealand to substitute an annual holiday on Coronation Day, May 12, for the present King's Birthday on December I t. Business men found the holiday awkward and expensive last month, and a number of them approached yesterday were of opinion that the change proposed would receive wide support here. The difficulty about the December date in that it brings business to a halt just when the peak of the preChristmas rush has been reached. I lie public is responding to the constant requests to shop early at that season and the rush is in full swing by December 11, Just as business lost through a very wet day does not return later, so it is with the business that is lost through a holiday. Moreover, everybody at that time is looking forward to the immediate prospect of holidays at Christmas and New Year and has 110 special desire-for one at that time. Legislation Necessary The proposed change could not be effected at once, pointed out Mr." W. E. Anderson, secretary of the Employers' Association, because all the awards and the Factories Act provide that the Sovereign's birthday lfiiist he observed as a holiday. As awards cannot. be amended during their currency without the consent of all the parties legislation would bo necessary before the coronation day could he observed in place of the King's Birthday. The great inconvenience caused both to retailers and to manufacturers last month by the holiday was partly duo to the fact that they had such very short notice of it and were unable to make preparations. Mr. Anderson said ho would not express any opinion on the merits of the proposal as none of the groups of employers he represented had yet had timo to consider it. He had no doubt that tho proposal made by Now Plymouth business people to adopt coronation day as the holiday would bo considered by tho employers hero within the next month or two. In Slack Season

The opinion that the proposed change would be a very good one was expressed by the secretary of the Manufacturers' Association, Mr. N. Crimp, who drew attention to the long gap now between Easter and the next public holiday. It would be welcomed, he thought, because it would avoid the interference with trade and business when it was at its peak and because the holiday would come in the slacker season of "the year when holidays are not very frequent. "I think it would bo universally welcome," he said.

"Local business people would be very much in favour of it." said the head of a large Queen Street firm. "The middle of May is as suitable a time as any for a holiday." it is a curious fact that for the last 100 years all the Sovereigns' birthdays have been at a time well suited to the convenience of this country, and accordingly this is the first occasion on which the question of the substitution of another date has arisen.