THE SHOP HALF-HOLIDAY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1191, 28 December 1894, Page 30

THE SHOP HALF-HOLIDAY.

At the meeting of the City Council last week three deputations interviewed the Council on the half-holiday question. The first deputation was introduced by Mr James Smith, who presented a petition bearing the signatures of 210 shopkeepers asking for Wednesday. Mr Smith said that should Saturday be selected there were many shopkeepers in Te Aro who would be able to keep open on that day, as they did not come within the provisions of the Act.

Mr Woods said that if the people who closed now on Wednesday were compelled to close on Saturday it; would result in disaster to many of them. The business done in the shops on Lambton quay was principally confined to the upper class, who could shop on any day of the week, whilst the trade of the Te Aro end of the town was contributed by the working classes.

Messrs T. P. Coveney and Cohen also expressed themselves in favour of Wednesday.

The Mayor said that the representations of the deputation would receive the greatest consideration from, the Council, who recognised the gravity of the responsibility placed on their shoulders by the Legislature.

Mr M. P. Cameron presented a petition signed by 128 shopkeepers in favour of the half-holiday being observed on Saturday. He said they were not actuated by anyselfish motives in urging that Saturday b© selected, for he could show by his books that he took much more money on Saturday than on Wednesday. The Act had been passed in the interest of the employees and not of the employers, and therefore the opinions of the former should receive the greatest consideration. Mr Kirkcaldie said that his deputation and those they represented were not actuated by an antagonistic spirit to those shopkeepers residing at Te Aro end. Mr Corrigan said that wages were paid on Tuesday evenings at the D.1.C., and he found that the custom worked very well. Aaother deputation, representing the Early Closing Association, presented a petition, signed by 500 employees in various parts of the city, in favour of Saturday. The deputation having the Mayor pointed but that the fixing of the day was left in the hands of the conference of delegates from the local bodies—five from Wellington and one each from Melrose, Karori, Johnsonville and Onslow. Councillor Barber moved, and it was seconded by Councillor Myers, that "the conference of delegates of local bodies for fixing the half-holiday take place on January 21st. Councillor Petherick moved as an amendment that no further action be taken in the matter. Councillor Harris said the Legislature had very wisely left it to local bodies to decide what was the most suitable day. He considered it would be cowardice on the part of the Council to shirk the matter. The amendment was lost, only the mover voting for it, and the original motion was carried; ._ Councillor Eraser moved that a poll.be taken, so as to get the opinion of the on the -matter, ' *' After some discussion this motion was withdrawn;.:,-.. /'."•''

The Trades Council, at their meeting last week, passed a resolution in favour of Saturday for the half-holiday, and that wages bo paid on Friday night. ;.